French prosecutors announced over the weekend the opening of a criminal investigation into Rabbi David Daniel Cohen following a YouTube video in which he issued severe threats against President Emmanuel Macron.
In the video, delivered in French, Rabbi Cohen warned Macron to “prepare his own coffin” and accused him of harboring “deep antisemitism” while declaring “war against God.” He also compared Macron to the Roman emperor Titus, who destroyed the Second Temple, saying Macron would share a similar painful fate, referencing a Talmudic story in which Titus died in agony after a tiny worm burrowed into his head.
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French President Emmanuel Macron and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
(Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP)
The rabbi further criticized Macron’s recognition of a Palestinian state, accusing him of arrogance and defiance against God. Regarding Palestinians, Cohen described them as “nomads who happened to settle in Gaza” and advised them to “gather their belongings and leave,” asserting they would not be able to remain under any future scenario.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the remarks as “unacceptable” and confirmed they were reported to both the government’s monitoring platform and law enforcement agencies.
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France’s Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia also denounced the statements as “disgusting and intolerable,” noting that Cohen “has never served as a rabbi in France nor studied or completed rabbinical training there.” Reports say Rabbi Cohen currently resides in Israel.
The controversy comes amid Macron’s recent calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Last month, Macron emphasized the urgent need to end the Gaza war, secure the release of all hostages, disarm Hamas, ensure Gaza’s security, rebuild the territory and promote peace through recognition of Israel and the new Palestinian state.