“Anti-Semitism”: the word subsumes a set of expressions of hatred of Jews which do not constitute a coherent whole nor in its forms – threats, inscriptions, prejudices, desecration of graves, pogroms, terrorism, segregation, discrimination, genocide, etc. – nor in its political, religious or racial orientations. There remains on the right an anti-Judaic Christian background which can mix with anti-Semitism making the Jews a race; and, on the left, as if symmetrically, an old anti-religious and anti-capitalist hatred.
Thus, classic prejudices plague various sectors of society. But could they lead a powerful political movement?
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From now on, Marine le Pen calls herself a friend of the Jews and of Israel. The electorate of the National Rally (RN), certainly, does not necessarily follow it; its apparatus not always either, as we saw when discovering certain candidates of this party in the legislative elections of 2024. But prejudices against Jews are no longer a driving force for the institutional extreme right, which stands out from it, and even , and this also applies to the Renaissance party, appeals to the part of the Jewish electorate which shares its fear of Islam and immigration.
On this side of the political spectrum, active hatred of Jews is nevertheless expressed, on social networks, in ultra-right groups, among intellectuals like Alain Soral (it should be noted that adults of immigrant origin of Arab origin -Muslim women are interested in their production, as shown by the work of sociologist Eric Marlière). Taking action here is not excluded: desecration of Jewish graves, for example, typical of small neo-Nazi groups.
Insidious rise of intolerance
Hate also comes from immigration of Arab-Muslim or even African origin, through identification with the Palestinian nation, with Islam (to reject the existence of Israel as a non-Muslim territory in a land of Islam), or to both. The historical depth of anti-Judaism is here only a few centuries less than that of Christianity, calling for a more serious examination than the dubious diagnosis according to which anti-Semitism circulates in an atavistic manner among the Muslims of France.
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