Jean-Marie Le Pen, one of the most prominent political figures in early 21st-century France, has died at the age of 96. Le Pen was known for his extreme nationalist views, and founded the National Front party; one of the largest and most influential parties in French politics, currently led by his daughter, Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen’s political career peaked when he advanced to the second round of the French presidential elections in 2002, only to suffer a decisive defeat by moderate right-wing candidate Jacques Chirac. Many regard Le Pen as the figure who brought far-right ideology into mainstream French politics.
Israel, the Jews, and Holocaust Denial
Due to his extreme views, Le Pen was a controversial figure for French Jews and for Israel. His vision of French nationalism led him to advocate for a public sphere free of any religious representation —whether Muslim, Christian, or Jewish. Additionally, his tendency to defend French nationalists who collaborated with Hitler during World War II (under the Vichy regime led by Philippe Pétain) led him to downplay the horrors of the Holocaust.
His claims ranged from denial of significant French involvement in the deportation of Jews to concentration and extermination camps, to outright dismissal of the Holocaust itself as a “minor detail” within the history of World War II – views which obviously caused much outrage. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that during World War II, Le Pen reportedly attempted to join the French Resistance rather than collaborating with the Nazis.
Le Pen did not harbor significant issues with the State of Israel itself, and even fought alongside Israeli forces during the Sinai Campaign in 1956. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, has succeeded him as the National Front party leader. She ousted her father from the party’s ranks nearly a decade ago to improve its image, and has demonstrated a relatively accommodating approach to Israel over the years.
