Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amikai Chikl told Kan Radio on Monday that it would be “great for Israel” if Marine Le Pen became France’s next president, given her “firm stance” against Hamas, the International Criminal Court and anti-Semitism.

Specifically, the paper reports that the Israeli minister justified his support for the far-right leader by citing her “firm positions” against Hamas, against the International Criminal Court – which seeks to try Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallad.

Amikai Chikli notes that Marine Le Pen was “the leading politician who joined the Jewish community in the anti-Semitism march on November 12, 2023 in Paris and which Macron chose not to participate in,” reports Haaretz.

The paper notes that this unqualified support reflects a remarkable development: “For years, Israeli ministers and officials abroad have been instructed to avoid any meetings with members of the National Rally,” he said, particularly because of “the far-right nature, anti-Semitism and denial of the Shoah”.

In fact, the previous week, the Israeli minister had publicly praised Jordan Bardela’s speech, in which he called a two-state solution “outdated”.

In response to a question from Haaretz, Chikli’s representative said that “the minister is in excellent contact with the National Rally and we are excited at the prospect of starting a productive dialogue with them.”