Bardella, 29, would be the first representative of National Rally to visit Israel on an official trip. The party, founded in 1972 by Jean-Marie Le Pen and former members of the Waffen-SS, was officially recognized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry last year. While Marine Le Pen, Jean-Marie Le Pen’s daughter, has distanced herself from her father’s history of antisemitic remarks—expelling him from the party in 2015—many of its supporters have ties to far-right nationalist groups that Jewish leaders continue to view with suspicion.
High-profile withdrawals
The invitation has prompted backlash with several key figures canceling their participation in the conference, scheduled for March 26-27. Among them is French-Jewish philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, who was set to deliver the keynote speech at an event hosted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Germany’s commissioner for Jewish life and combating antisemitism Felix Klein and former German lawmaker Volker Beck, who heads the Germany-Israel Friendship Association, also withdrew in protest.
Jewish leaders, Israeli officials caught off guard
Despite Bardella’s vocal support for Israel, his party remains deeply divisive among French Jewish leaders. Marine Le Pen has described herself as “the best protector of Jews in France,” though Jewish organizations have countered that they seek a collective fight against antisemitism, not a political protector.
Israeli officials appeared unprepared for the controversy. In a statement, the President’s Residence said: “The President’s Residence was asked to host a conference by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry on combating antisemitism. The list of participants has not yet been submitted. Once received, it will be reviewed as with any event hosted at the residence. We were surprised to learn of some of the invitees given the conference’s stated purpose of combating antisemitism.”
Chikli defended the invitation, stating that Israel had formalized ties with several European right-wing parties including National Rally and Spain’s nationalist Vox party due to their strong support for Israel following the October 7 attack.
Far-right delegation expands
Other controversial figures invited to the conference include Marion Maréchal, Le Pen’s niece and a member of the far-right Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament; Hermann Tertsch of Spain’s Vox party; Charlie Weimers of Sweden’s nationalist Sweden Democrats and Kinga Gál of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party.
