Marine Le Pen's Participation in Antisemitism March Sparks Controversy Amid Rising Hate Crimes in France

Le Pen's decision to join march criticized due to National Rally Party's anti-semitic history; antisemitic acts in France triple since 2022 amid Israel-Hamas war.

• French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is participating in an anti-Semitism march, facing criticism due to the National Rally party's history of anti-Semitic behavior. Le Pen has tried to cleanse the party's image by distancing it from its founder, her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a known anti-Semite.
• Since the Israel-Hamas war in October, France has reported 1,159 instances of anti-Semitic behavior, almost triple the total incidents throughout 2022. France holds the largest Jewish population in Europe and has a history of collaboration with Nazis in World War II.
• There is widespread protest against Le Pen's decision to participate in this march. Various political parties, the Jewish umbrella group known as CRIF, and House Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet voiced their disapproval.
• Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld views Le Pen and her party's participation in the march positively, recognizing it as a significant shift from the far-right's anti-Semitism. He also acknowledges the successful efforts of his organization leading to Jean-Marie Le Pen's conviction for his anti-Semitic actions.
• The controversy surrounding Le Pen's participation parallels France's struggle with maintaining its cultural identity amid fears of Muslim 'submersion'. Le Pen's party and Eric Zemmour's Reconquest party both express concerns about the changing nature of French society.

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