Prominent French politicians attend pro-Israel demonstration

By Seyma Uzundere

French politicians joined a pro-Israel rally on Sunday following calls from the heads of France’s Senate and National Assembly.

Prominent French politicians took part in the anti-Semitism protest in Paris organized by Senate President Gerard Larcher and National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet, local media reported.

At the demonstration, former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande took seats alongside Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, while far-right politician Marine Le Pen also attended despite objections.

More than 3,000 police officers were deployed along the route of the demonstration.

Footage circulating on social media showed a person shouting "Free Palestine" being attacked by protesters.

The individual was removed from the scene with police intervention.

Members of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party, which has stood out for its support of Palestine since the war between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas broke out on Oct. 7, decided not to participate in the demonstration, saying it was "clearly pro-Israel."

LFI members also strongly criticized Le Pen’s decision to take part.

Since Israel's attacks on Gaza, the French government has imposed a nationwide ban on demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine, which was brought before the Council of State because it violated freedom of expression.

The Council of State ruled that a blanket ban on demonstrations could not be imposed, emphasizing that the authorities should make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Since the start of the demonstrations in support of Palestine, arrests on charges of anti-Semitism have increased in the country.