Israel Condemns Le Pen's Statements on France's 'Lack of Responsibility' in Jewish Massacre

Israel has condemned the statements made by Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate in France, regarding the country's 'lack of responsibility' in the expulsion and killing of Jews during the Holocaust. According to AFP, Ms. Le Pen stated on Sunday, April 9, during her election campaign, that if anyone was responsible for the expulsion of Jews and their transportation to death camps, it was the then-government, not France itself. She claimed that the expulsion and transportation of Jews from France to death camps were carried out by Hitler's supporters, and that the country and its people bear no responsibility in this matter. The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, April 10, declaring that Ms. Le Pen's remarks 'contradict historical facts, which have also been acknowledged by French presidents.' In her remarks on Sunday, Ms. Le Pen also complained that 'our children are only taught the darkest parts of history; while French children should be proud of their history again.' Ms. Le Pen is the leader of the 'National Rally' and one of the main candidates in the upcoming French presidential election in two weeks. Emmanuel Macron, the centrist candidate, condemned Ms. Le Pen's statements, calling them 'a major mistake.' According to Macron, Marine Le Pen's words serve as a good reminder for those who 'forgot she is the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen.' Ms. Le Pen's father, who founded his party in 1972, has been repeatedly condemned by French courts for anti-Semitic and racist remarks. The founder of the 'National Rally' was prosecuted for stating that 'the Holocaust was merely a marginal event in history.' According to AFP, 'CRIF,' the representative organization of Jews in France, and the Union of Jewish Students in France also condemned Ms. Le Pen's remarks on Sunday, labeling her a 'revisionist.' 'CRIF,' which represents six million Jews in France, stated in its announcement that Ms. Le Pen's remarks are 'an insult' to France, a country that officially accepted responsibility for driving its Jews to Nazi camps in 1995. Former President Jacques Chirac and current President François Hollande have apologized for the country's role in the killing of French Jews. The number of Jews from France who were killed after being expelled and sent to Nazi camps is estimated to be around thirteen thousand. One of the most significant events in the contemporary history of Jews in France occurred in 1942 when thousands were arrested and held in a stadium before being sent to Nazi-controlled camps in other parts of Europe. The 'Vichy regime' was established after France's defeat by Nazi Germany in 1940 and collaborated with Hitler's government until France was liberated by Allied forces and partisans in 1944. However, Marine Le Pen stated that 'the Vichy government in France should not be equated with the country of France.'