Israeli ambassador to France holds first official meeting with Marine Le Pen

Israel’s ambassador to France met with National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen in Paris this week, marking the first official engagement between the Israeli diplomatic mission and the French far-right figurehead.

The Israeli Embassy in Paris confirmed the meeting between Ambassador Joshua Zarka and Le Pen to the French newspaper Le Parisien. Neither party had disclosed the meeting in advance, and no details regarding the substance of their discussion have been released.

The meeting occurred as diplomatic tensions escalate between Tel Aviv and the Élysée Palace, driven by President Emmanuel Macron’s involvement in regional diplomacy and his criticisms of the Israeli military campaign in Lebanon.

Last week, following Israeli strikes that shook Lebanon, Le Pen stated on social media that France has an “obligation to protect Lebanon, its people, and its sovereignty.” She further expressed her support for a ceasefire in the country. Le Pen also met with the Lebanese Ambassador to France, Rabih Chaer, to convey her “feelings of solidarity with Lebanon.”

Despite her stance on Lebanon, Le Pen has remained vocal regarding Israel’s position toward Iran. In a speech to the French parliament, she stated that Israel, as “the region’s only democracy,” is “obliged to comply with the rules of international law.”

Israeli officials have for decades avoided direct contact with Le Pen and her party, formerly known as the National Front. This policy was rooted in the party’s history of antisemitism and the legacy of its founder, Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was convicted of denying crimes against humanity for several incendiary remarks, including those minimizing the scale of the Holocaust.

Since assuming leadership of the party in 2011, Marine Le Pen has sought to distance the National Rally from her father’s shadow. Concurrently, some Israeli officials have become more open to building relationships with European far-right leaders who, despite their parties’ antisemitic pasts, have emerged as staunch supporters of Israel.

The National Rally received formal recognition from the Israeli government when the party’s president and Le Pen’s protégé, Jordan Bardella, was officially hosted by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli at a high-level conference in Jerusalem. The event, which focused on the fight against antisemitism, brought together several far-right leaders. Bardella appeared as a keynote speaker following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and toured Israel with Chikli prior to the conference.

In 2024, Chikli publicly endorsed Le Pen for the presidency, stating that her leading France would be “excellent for Israel.” He cited her “determined stance” against Hamas, the International Criminal Court, and antisemitism as the primary reasons for his support. Chikli’s endorsement triggered a diplomatic crisis, prompting then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz to issue a clarification on election day, stating that “Israel does not interfere in French elections and respects French democracy.”

Last year, Le Pen was convicted of misusing European Parliament funds for political purposes. The ruling resulted in her being barred from holding public office, a decision that would block her presidential candidacy in 2027. Le Pen is currently appealing the verdict.