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Despite a call from French Jews, Macron and Le Pen have not adopted the IHRA antisemitism definition

Jewish community leaders say it is needed to win lawsuits against activists who incite hatred

September 27, 2018 09:09
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ByShirli Sitbon, Shirli Sitbon in Paris

2 min read

Parties led by Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are among the major political movements in France that have not yet accepted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, despite a call by French Jewish leaders for them to do so.

The French President’s La République En Marche party has not yet moved to follow a European Parliament recommendation to align itself to the IHRA.

Neither has the far-right National Rally, the party led by Marine le Pen that was until recently known as the National Front.

“When I asked political leaders and party officials what they thought about the definition and if they would adopt it, they said it would be a good idea, but I haven’t heard anything since,” said Francis Kalifat, who leads the French Jewish umbrella group Crif.