Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that France is facing an “aggression of extremist Islam.” He made these remarks in a provocative statement on Tuesday, criticizing France following riots that erupted from protests over economic conditions during the weekend. Netanyahu’s comments echo the rhetoric often used by far-right politicians and commentators in the Western world—individuals who baselessly claim that immigration has led to the implementation of Islamic law in parts of Europe, including Britain. Such assertions have drawn accusations of promoting Islamophobia. This report comes from the news agency AFP.
In an interview, the right-wing Prime Minister suggested that French leaders were ill-prepared to handle the unrest, attributing the turmoil to “extremist Muslims.” This is despite the fact that the protests in Paris and other major French cities involved individuals from diverse segments of the population. According to an interpreter’s translation broadcast on the French-language television channel i24NEWS, Netanyahu stated, “They did not prepare in time; they simply gave up. They have surrendered to the aggression of extremist Islam.”
When asked what advice he would offer France, Netanyahu replied: “Mount a counter-resistance. Do not pursue a policy of appeasement. Fight against the extremists.” He did not, however, provide any further details. Netanyahu further claimed that following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, he had told French President Emmanuel Macron, “If we do not eliminate them here, you will see them in Paris—and that is exactly what is happening.” He offered no evidence to support this assertion.
France is among several European nations that recognized Palestine as a state last year—a move that angered Israel. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has pointed to immigration as a contributing factor to the unrest in France. He has urged both Europe and President Emmanuel Macron to implement stricter border controls. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, Trump stated that the events unfolding in France are linked to immigration—not to schools or any other factor; it is an issue of immigration. “I told President Emmanuel Macron, ‘Close your borders,'” he said.
During his 2024 election campaign, Trump highlighted the tackling of illegal immigration as a key pledge. In the process, he at times stoked ethnic fears and even resorted to making false claims. Previously, in August, Netanyahu had mocked Britain by referring to it as an “Islamic Republic”—a remark that London strongly condemned, describing it as “completely unacceptable.”
