Israel-Hamas war having major repercussions on domestic politics in France and Germany

Germany and France could offer global leadership. Instead, they’re struggling with the weight of their own histories

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the unacceptable rise in anti-semitic acts in his country, but chose to do it at France’s most prestigious masonic lodge, Le Grand Orient de France, known for its anti-clericalism and devotion to reason and Enlightenment values. File picture: Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP

While the world focuses on the many ways in which the Israel-Hamas war is re-shaping the geopolitics of the Middle East, western powers are also contending with its impact on their societies and domestic politics. The worry is not only about an immediate regional spill-over, but about repercussions in Paris, Berlin, London and beyond.

Given the tortuous histories of France and Germany, rising anti-semitism in both countries is of particular concern in the wake of the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel and the Israeli government’s retaliatory war. In France, which has the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, events could potentially pit two minorities—both of which have reason to feel systemically and historically victimised and persecuted—against one another. In Germany, the weight of the second world war needs no explanation.