Israeli ambassador to France accused of 'foreign interference' after election remarks

NEWS SUMMARY

Israeli Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka was accused of "blatant foreign interference" by French politicians after stating in a television interview on Thursday that he would prefer any candidate over Jean-Luc Melenchon to win the 2027 presidential election. Zarka's remarks, which also mentioned meeting with far-right leader Marine Le Pen, drew immediate criticism from across the French political spectrum, including from the Socialist Party and the Horizons party, for breaching diplomatic neutrality.

Full BriefOn request

Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 06/05/2026 - 13:09 Joshua Zarka says he prefers any presidential candidate over Jean-Luc Melenchon, a supporter of Palestinian rights, prompting criticism across the French political spectrum Israel's Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka speaks during a ceremony to pay tribute to Israel's Olympic team victims in the 1972 Munich Games, at the Embassy of Israel in Paris on 6 August 2024 (Stephane De Sakutin/AFP) Off The Israeli ambassador to France has been accused of "

Israeli ambassador to France accused of 'foreign interference' after election remarks

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