Paris- On the eve of the National Day of Secularism, which France celebrates under the 1905 law separating church and state, President Emmanuel Macron created a major gap between this anniversary and its practice on the ground.
On Thursday evening, the candle of the Jewish Festival of Lights (Hanukkah in Hebrew) was lit in the reception hall of the Elysee Palace “in memory of the Israelis” who were killed during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation last October 7.
While opposition voices denounced the head of state’s political error, Macron said on Friday that making a “religious gesture” or participating in a celebration “does not mean disrespecting secularism.”
In an unprecedented religious evening that occurred for the first time in the history of the Republic, the French President received the annual Lord Jacobowitz Prize from the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), which former German Chancellor Angela Merkel had received in 2013, “in tribute to his work against anti-Semitism.”
Inappropriate time
To complete the scenes of celebration, the Chief Rabbi of France, Chaim Corsia, lit the first candle in the menorah of the Jewish Festival of Lights, which lasts 8 days.
Writer and political analyst Jean-Pierre Perrin believes that the time was not appropriate to hold such a celebration, knowing that “the principle of separation between religion and politics in France is an extremely sacred matter that should not be compromised and does not accept exceptions, whatever the circumstances,” as he put it.
This is not the first time that Macron’s choices have been criticized, as he was previously accused of wasting the opportunity to celebrate the struggle against anti-Semitism in the march that was organized in Paris on November 12.
In this context, Le Pen indicated – in his speech to Tel Aviv Tribune Net – that it would have been better for the president to participate in the march against anti-Semitism instead of “assaulting and attacking” the state’s right to neutrality and secularism, describing his behavior as “incorrect and breaking boundaries.”
Despite his attempt to read Macron’s behavior with pure intentions and to show support for the Jewish community, the political analyst stressed that the images of the celebration at the Elysee “will not comfort the Jewish community in France and will not change anything. On the contrary, it may increase anti-Jewish resentment and make the situation worse than it already is.” “.
Harsh criticism
The celebration of candlelight rituals inside the presidential palace, surrounded by rabbis and their songs, was met with harsh criticism from across the political spectrum because it did not agree with the 1905 law, which is considered the founding text of secularism in the country, and stipulates that “the Republic does not recognize, use, or support any religion.”
Vice President of the Republicans, Julien Hubert, said in a tweet on the “X” platform that the president’s role in a secular state is limited to “defending Israeli citizens against attacks, and not celebrating their religion in the Elysee,” asking, “Can we imagine a Christmas or holiday mass?” – referring to Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr – at the Elysee?
For her part, the representative of the “Proud France” party, Arcilia Soudes, attacked the French president by saying that “Emmanuel Macron is once again involved in attacking secularism,” adding, “Instead of holding a mass in the Elysee, shout loudly and clearly: an immediate ceasefire.”
Some of the French president’s supporters tried to defend him, such as Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who said, “Secularism is not the denial of religions. I accompanied the president to mosques, synagogues, and churches several times.”
Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne considered that the celebration was a “signal” of support sent by the president to the Jewish community in the face of “rising anti-Semitism,” rejecting any controversy about moving away from the principle of secularism.
On the other hand, reactions from the right and far right were less offensive and particularly criticized Macron’s “attempt to compensate for his absence during the march against anti-Semitism.”
“Fatal error”
Although France’s positions have changed to be more balanced than they were at the beginning regarding the war on the Gaza Strip, political analyst Biran believes that celebrating the Jewish holiday “turns the cards around and makes us tend to confuse Judaism with Israel.”
Contrary to all expectations, Macron’s initiative did not gain the approval and approval of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), which joined the party of strong critics, as the head of the council, Yonathan Arfi, said that the celebration was a “mistake.”
He added, “This is not the appropriate place inside the Elysee to light the Chanukah candle because the DNA of the Republic is to stay away from anything religious.”
Expressing his astonishment during an interview on local radio, Arfi explained, “French Jews have always considered secularism to be a law of protection and freedom. Everything that weakens secularism weakens them.”
In turn, Biran agrees – in his statement to Tel Aviv Tribune Net – with this opinion, “because Macron’s behavior is a grave political mistake, and what is worse is that he is unaware of this mistake because, as usual, he does not listen to anyone around him during his second term.”
He continued, “I am not sure whether there are political motives or calculations behind this, but perhaps this is not the case. Sometimes – as politicians – we have to be able to compose.”
Biran considered that the greatest political failure committed by the French president was his previous proposal to “create an international coalition to fight the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).”