A rabbi has reportedly accused the president of antisemitism, and warned him to “prepare his coffin” over plans to recognize Palestine
France has launched a criminal investigation into alleged death threats against President Emmanuel Macron which were made by a rabbi critical of his stance on Palestinian statehood, Le Parisien reported on Friday.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that a probe had been opened after a video surfaced showing a French-speaking rabbi – believed to be living in Israel – launching a furious verbal attack on the French leader.
In the video, posted last week on YouTube, a man identified as rabbi David Daniel Cohen reportedly accused Macron of rewriting history by planning to recognize Palestine, calling the move a “declaration of war against God” and a sign of “deep-seated” antisemitism.
“This French president … He’d better prepare his coffin,” Cohen was quoted as saying in the now-unlisted video.
France’s top Jewish religious authority condemned the rabbi’s words as “abject and intolerable.”
Macron announced last month that Paris would formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, describing it as a “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace.”
The move drew criticism from Israel and the US. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK would also recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel changes course in Gaza. Fifteen other countries later issued a joint statement, echoing support for a two-state solution as the only way to end the war.
As of March, 147 of the 193 UN member states – including Russia – officially recognize Palestine. Moscow’s position dates back to 1988, when the Soviet Union recognized the Palestinian declaration of independence. Russia “has always adhered to a two-state solution” as the only way to resolve the issue, according to the Kremlin.
The conflict erupted in 2023 after the militant group Hamas invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. West Jerusalem’s response has left at least 60,000 people dead – mostly civilians – over 21 months, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
On Friday, Israel approved plans to seize Gaza City. The move could pave the way for a full takeover of the enclave, despite warnings that it could endanger hostages held by Hamas and prolong the war.