Former minister urges French Jews to flee to Israel after left-wing victory

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Former Israeli minister Avigdor Lieberman called Monday on French Jews to flee to Israel after the left-wing won the most seats in parliament.

Lieberman, the head of the opposition Yisrael Beytenu Party, called the French leftist parties alliance "radical left."

"I call on the French Jews to leave France and immigrate to the State of Israel. No time," Lieberman, a former defense minister, said on X.

He said Jean-Luc Melenchon, a prominent leader of the French left-wing New People's Front alliance, "became famous with quite a few statements against Jews and the State of Israel."

Melenchon has pledged to recognize Palestine as a state following his alliance's victory in the French general election.

There was no comment from the Israeli government on the French election results.

According to Israeli figures, there are around 440,000 Jews living in France.

In the second round of voting, the New Popular Front, an alliance comprising four left-wing parties, emerged as the leading force with 178 deputies.

The largest party within the alliance, France Unbowed, is headed by Melenchon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar