Israeli minister backs RN leader Bardello, calls him strong anti-Hamas voice
Israel's diaspora minister Amichaï Chikli defended Jordan Bardella after Mediapart linked the RN figure to alleged 2013 anti-Jewish posts.
Amichaï Chikli, Israel's minister for the diaspora and the fight against anti-Semitism, publicly supported Jordan Bardella, describing him as one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Hamas. He cited Bardella's trips to the Nova festival site and nearby Gaza communities, where he met survivors and spoke against anti-Semitism in Jerusalem. The remarks followed a Mediapart investigation that released 2013 online messages it attributes to Bardella, featuring anti-Jewish statements.
Bardella rejected the allegations and filed a defamation complaint. Chikli also rebuked Mediapart director Carine Fouteau, accusing her of portraying Israel as a colonial power and demanding sanctions over Gaza.
Why it matters
The clash highlights tensions between European far-right politics and Israel's diplomatic outreach amid accusations of anti-Semitism.
In this story
