How the conflict between Israel and Hamas sets the French political class on fire

The organizers and their supporters of part of the left hoped to win their case. But the ban on the pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for Saturday in Paris was finally confirmed by the administrative court late Friday afternoon. This decision was announced Thursday evening by the Paris police prefect, Didier Lallement, at the request of the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, because of the risk of "disturbances to public order". Like the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, the ban has set the French political class ablaze. 

Jean-Luc Mélenchon lit the fuse on Twitter: "France, the only country in the world where all demonstrations of support for the Palestinians and protest against the far-right Israeli government are banned!", Writes the leader of the rebels.

PS boss Olivier Faure shifts: "A 7-year-old precedent cannot justify violating the freedom to demonstrate." 

France, the only country in the world where all demonstrations of support for the Palestinians and protest against the far-right Israeli government are prohibited!

This is obviously for the sole purpose of causing incidents and being able to stigmatize this cause.

- Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) May 13, 2021

A 7-year-old precedent cannot justify violating the freedom to demonstrate.

It is up to the government to ensure that the organizers run smoothly.

The international community must call for a ceasefire to avoid a deadly escalation.

https://t.co/ytOtk4cMNe

- Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) May 13, 2021

A "wise" ban, according to Anne Hidalgo

To justify the ban, Prefect Lallement pointed to "a serious risk" of "serious disturbances to public order", as well as "abuses against synagogues and Israeli interests".

And put forward, like Gerald Darmanin, the precedent of 2014, when a pro Palestinian demonstration in Paris had degenerated into urban violence.

The PS mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, deemed the government's decision "wise".

"I fear violence since in 2014 we all remember an extremely difficult demonstration where terrible words like 'death to the Jews' were uttered," she said.

Support and positions are raining

The break is not limited to the ban on the demonstration. Since the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, politicians are showing their positions. In a cautious statement, the Elysee on Friday called for a return to "calm and peace" in the Jewish state, before strongly condemning "the shots claimed by Hamas harming the security of Israel". For the deputy LFI of Seine-Saint-Denis, Eric Coquerel, "it is a geopolitical conflict, the problem, it is a colonized people which has its capital occupied against all the resolutions of the UNO".

The right, for its part, provides strong support to the country of Benjamin Netanyahu, Valérie Pécresse evoking in particular "legitimate responses".

The LR deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Eric Ciotti, for his part, calls for the prohibition of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Nice.

Marine Le Pen considers for her that "the rain of missiles launched by Hamas on the Israeli civilian populations is an unacceptable act".

Following the rains of bombs sent to Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas, and Israel's legitimate responses, my thoughts are with all the victims.

I wish for the Israelis and the Palestinians respect for international law and the return of peace.

- Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) May 13, 2021

The appeal of the organizers of the Paris event was examined on Friday and the decision should be rendered on Saturday morning. The organizers intended in particular to denounce the position of France, considered too favorable to Israel.