French party leader Bardella backs Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, calls it fight for survival

Bardella said Hezbollah should be disarmed and characterized Israeli operations as justified.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Jordan Bardella, president of France’s National Rally party, said Wednesday that Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon is part of a broader struggle for survival, offering a position that contrasts with much of Europe’s response to the conflict.

In an interview Wednesday evening with French television network BFMTV, Bardella was asked whether Israel’s actions in Lebanon were disproportionate.

He declined to criticize Israel and described the situation as a matter of national security.

“Israel is in a difficult situation because it is surrounded by Iran and its Shiite proxy organizations, by Hezbollah and Hamas, whose entire existence is driven by the desire to destroy Israel,” he said. “Israel is surrounded by enemies that want to eliminate it, and it is fighting for its very existence and security, which is also a clash of civilizations.”

Bardella said Hezbollah should be disarmed and characterized Israeli operations as justified, while adding that they should remain limited in scope.

“Hezbollah must be disarmed, and Israel’s surgical strikes are legitimate but must be proportionate,” he said.

He also described Hezbollah as an extension of Iran and said the group presents broader risks beyond the region.

“For years, Hezbollah has been considered an integral part of Lebanon, while the organization is in fact an extension of the Iranian regime that not only seeks Israel’s destruction but also poses a danger to Europe’s interests and to the interests of the Western world in the region,” he said.

Bardella said that ensuring long-term stability requires more than diplomatic measures.

“But we have to understand that the best way to ensure Israel’s security and Lebanon’s independence is not only diplomatic,” he said. “It also requires disarming Hezbollah and supporting the Lebanese army, and France can take part in that. Only in this way can these two democracies live in security.”

His stance differs from the position of the French government, which has maintained close ties with Lebanon and has repeatedly criticized Israeli strikes while expressing support for Israel’s security.

Bardella could also face a changing political landscape after Marine le Pen was sentenced last year to two years in prison, suspended, fined 100,000 euros, and barred from running for office for five years, according to Ynet.