ALGEMEINER
French Far-Left Leader, Presidential Candidate Under Fire for Antisemitism Threatens Israel With Military Force
Ailin Vilches Arguello
June 1, 2026

The leader of France’s largest leftist coalition in parliament and a 2027 presidential candidate appeared to threaten Israel with international military action, marking the latest controversy surrounding the longtime anti-Israel lawmaker, who critics have accused of helping fuel the ongoing surge in antisemitism across France. On Sunday, Jean-Luc Mélenchon claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to occupy southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been fighting the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, and called for an international military deployment against Israel. “Israel is invading and annexing all of southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has raised his flag over Beaufort Castle. This French name should remind us of the thousand-year history that binds us to Lebanon. We owe the Lebanese people aid, solidarity, and support in the face of genocidal forces,” Mélenchon wrote in a post on X. READ MORE

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