Afrasianet - In a fiery interview with France's LCI channel, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the Father France party, described Israel as "the most dangerous country in the region right now," calling it the party that is attacking its neighbors and setting fires in every direction.
Mélenchon accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of "committing genocide" in the Gaza Strip, describing it as a "gang of fascists and lunatics" who are not only destroying Gaza, but continue to gnaw away at land in the West Bank and occupy the Golan, which is an affront to international values and to Israel's image itself.
He said that these people "desecrate" Israel's image, considering that it is their policies that incite hatred and destabilize the world.
He pointed out that Israel is not content with the war in Gaza, but also organizes the "confiscation of land" in the West Bank and perpetuates the occupation in the Golan, which he sees as a flagrant violation of international law, which should be the sole reference of France.
Mélenchon has made it clear that the EU-Israel trade deal should be suspended , stressing that France, under his leadership, will lead a European front that includes Spain and other countries to push economically to stop the war.
A call for respect for international law
In the context of the regional escalation, Mélenchon sharply criticized French and American involvement in the conflict with Tehran, stressing that Israel and the United States have attacked Iran without any international mandate. "Whatever we think of the Iranian regime, France's interest is to respect international law, not to enshrine the law of the strongest, because we are simply not the strongest militarily," he explained.
Mélenchon also opposed sending the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the region, calling the move a "mere political show" by President Emmanuel Macron, warning against throwing French soldiers into a "combat zone" that does not serve the country's sovereign interests.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Mélenchon stressed that Lebanese sovereignty must be respected, calling for the arming of the Lebanese army to enable it to control its borders.
In a firm message, Mélenchon said: "I am capable of responding immediately, anyone who touches a French soldier under the UNIFIL flag will be hit hard," stressing the need to turn international forces into a real separation force rather than withdraw when confrontations occur.
Divorce with NATO and dependence on Washington
On the macro foreign policy front, Mélenchon pledged that if he arrives at the Elysee Palace in 2027, he will:
• Withdraw from NATO's unified command: to end military and technical dependence on the United States.
• Building an international "rejection front": Bringing together countries from the Global South, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, to confront what he described as the "Western diplomatic blindness" towards the Palestinian cause.
• Recognizing "One China": Affirming that Taiwan is part of China, and refusing to enter into any military conflict with Beijing to appease Washington.
Mélenchon concluded his interview by stressing that "France must return to an independent mediating power," away from Macron's "at the same time" policy, which Mélenchon believes has lost France its prestige and influence in Africa and the Middle East.
The 74-year-old announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election last week, expressing confidence of inflicting a crushing defeat on the far-right , which he saw as his main opponent. Mélenchon also ran for the 2012 and 2017 presidential elections in France on behalf of the Father of France party, but lost.
Source: Agence France-Presse
