“How can we not be anti-Semitic when we see the damage done by the Israeli army in Gaza,” asks Bernard Kouchner

Former French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner deplored Sunday, on Radio J, the “disproportionate war” carried out by Israel in Gaza which leads, according to him, to anti-Semitism in France.

“How can we not be anti-Semitic when we see the damage done by the Israeli army? Contemplate Gaza, it is still a field of murders, of disasters. It’s the breakdown of families”he said.

“Of course there were (the Hamas attacks) on October 7 (2023). And God knows it revolted me. But take revenge with 40,000 deaths, if the figure is true…”he added before being interrupted by the journalist.

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“You say with what is happening in Gaza, it is normal for us to be anti-Semitic?”asked journalist Frédéric Haziza. “It’s not normal, but the reaction can be like this”he continued. If he nevertheless specifies that according to him, “Israel’s military reaction after October 7 was legitimate and necessary: ​​it was expected. But to continue like this and only have a military solution is a mistake!”

Anti-Semitism is the science of fools. It is a very deep evil. France has always been anti-Semitic

Bernard Kouchner

Bernard Kouchner, head of diplomacy from 2007 to 2010 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, stressed that as a former humanitarian, he could only be outraged. “We massacred a lot of people. This is a deadly reaction. I am not satisfied with it”he said. “I spent my life caring for people”.

Nicknamed the «French doctor»Bernard Kouchner, who created Médecins du Monde, for years treated children in Afghanistan, rescued boat people in the China Sea, and even traveled through war-torn Lebanon and besieged Sarajevo. “Anti-Semitism is the science of fools. It is a very deep evil. France has always been anti-Semitic.he also reacted.

In the wake of the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, anti-Semitic acts jumped 1000% in the last quarter of 2023. Since the start of 2024, they have almost tripled, with “887 facts” recorded in the first half of the year, according to the latest figures from the authorities (compared to the same period a year earlier).