Political scientist criticizes France's 'unilateral blindness' on Israel

NICE, France

Nearly a month ago, when Israeli airstrikes targeting Gaza were already in full force, French senators were preparing a bill to penalize opposition to Zionism, a move that shows France's "political blindness" on Israel, according to one political scientist.

Senators submitted three measures, including a one-year sentence and a €45,000 fine for denial of the existence of the state of Israel, two years behind bars and a €75,000 fine for insulting the state of Israel, and five years and a €100,000 fine for provoking hatred or violence against the state of Israel.

The bill does not directly mention "anti-Zionism" but refers to acts that could be considered the rejection of policies pursued by Israel.

Political scientist Francois Burgat, the director of research at Paris’ National Scientific Research Center (CNRS), told Anadolu in an interview that Israel’s "collective punishment" of the Palestinian population "logically generates a wave of protests in the entire world, including France."

French politics' "unilateral blindness" expresses itself in two ways, according to Burgat - active and unconditional support for Israel and the criminalization of any critics regarding Israel.

The scholar also pointed to a double standard over the facts in the Mideast conflict and to the absence of a rational, well-argued debate among the political class.

This bill cannot find any justification other than the "old worn-out rhetoric of the fight against antisemitism," Burgat added.

The date France’s parliament is to consider the bill has yet to be fixed.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas a month ago.

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed since then. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.