Le Pen Deputy Visits Israel
Louis Aliot, vice president of France’s National Front party, is visiting Israel to try to drum up support for Marine Le Pen in elections this spring.
Le Pen is the leader of the controversial political party founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. She has been trying to distance herself and the party from the anti-Semitic and xenophobic opinions expressed by her father, who once called the Nazi gas chambers a “detail of World War II.” He was convicted in Germany for inciting racial hatred for the statement.
Aliot arrived in Israel on Monday for a 48-hour visit. He and Le Pen have been a couple for the last two years, according to the French daily Le Parisien.
Aliot met with about 40 French Jews in order to present them with Le Pen’s platform. He also met with some Israeli political officials, none Knesset members, according to Haaretz, and visited the Western Wall. He was scheduled to visit churches in Bethlehem on Tuesday.
“This is the first time a National Front leader has visited Israel. It’s true that relations were tense for a time, but it’s time to warm up the atmosphere,” Aliot told Haaretz.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
