French Presidential Candidate Accuses Israel of “Genocide” and Calls for Confronting Trump’s Policies
Jean-Luc Mélenchon: Tel Aviv Is the Most Dangerous Party in the Region and Always Starts Wars
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Prominent French politician and potential candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, intensified his rhetoric against Israel and the United States, accusing the Israeli government of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and holding it responsible for the ongoing military escalation in the region.
In statements made on Saturday to the French channel “LCI,” Mélenchon described the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a group of fascists and madmen,” considering Israel to be “the most dangerous party in the region” because of what he described as its “habit of initiating wars and attacks against neighboring countries.”
The leader of the “La France Insoumise” movement stressed that the situation in Gaza and Lebanon requires urgent international action, calling on the international community to take a firmer stance to stop the war and prevent the conflict from expanding across the Middle East.
Criticism of Trump and Rejection of “Dependence on Washington”
Mélenchon’s criticism was not limited to Israel; it also extended to U.S. President Donald Trump. He called on European countries not to follow American policies blindly, saying: “We owe nothing to anyone… Trump acts as he pleases, but we are capable of stopping him.”
He argued that continued American support for military operations in the region contributes to deepening crises and pushes the region toward greater instability, warning of the consequences for Europe and its economic and political security.
French Support for the Palestinian Cause
Mélenchon stressed that the suffering of Palestinian prisoners “will not be forgotten,” affirming that “humanitarian and moral duty requires standing with the Palestinian people” in the face of what he described as a “war machine” threatening the future of the entire region.
He also criticized the position of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), arguing that its withdrawal from some areas of tension contradicts the nature of its assigned mission. He emphasized that France “cannot accept any targeting of its soldiers participating in peacekeeping forces.”
Growing Political Presence Ahead of the 2027 Elections
Mélenchon’s statements come amid his growing political presence in France after he recently succeeded in gathering hundreds of thousands of public endorsements in preparation for the upcoming presidential race, as European criticism of American and Israeli policies in the region continues to grow.
Observers believe that the escalatory rhetoric of the leader of “La France Insoumise” reflects the increasing divisions within Europe regarding the war in the Middle East and its direct impact on European security, energy, and the economy.
