These are days when more Palestinian flags than French flags are being waved in France. In fact, the French flags are barely visible. For years, protesters have been shouting, "Globalize the Intifada." They shouted, and they got what they wanted.
The West in general, and now France, are still far from experiencing their own October 7. But they are heading in that direction. The flags, the brutality, the elderly couple stripped of their clothes, all point the way. They are still only at the stage of destruction and devastation. What comes next could be far bloodier and more dangerous.
The West suffers from deafness. It doesn't matter what the jihadists say. Western leaders simply will not listen. French President Emmanuel Macron had a brilliant idea. Since France has millions of Muslims, and since they wave Palestinian flags, he would give them what they wanted. He was the one who initiated the latest international push to recognize a Palestinian state. Perhaps he thought this would make him a hero. Maybe, who knows, it would earn him points, perhaps even immunity, among the millions of angry protesters and young people from the suburbs. Here was their courageous leader, who, in the wake of the Hamas massacre, was looking out for the Palestinians instead.
But it turns out the idea was neither wonderful nor brilliant. Macron, who is neither the worst example nor a hater of Israel, refused to listen to what jihadists were saying about the West. He failed to understand the meaning of "Globalize the Intifada." He did not understand that it was coming for him. Yes, for him personally.
Here is one example: "The only response to France and President Macron is to declare jihad. The armies of the caliphate will conquer Rome and France and remove Macron and his corrupt civilization ... It is a civilization of prostitution and promiscuity. It will be replaced by an Islamic civilization and justice."
These words were spoken by Nidal Siam, an Islamist preacher, before an enthusiastic, cheering crowd at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The audience responded with rhythmic chants: "Through jihad, we will destroy Macron" and "Tomorrow we will conquer Paris."
It may be that the student riots in France began because of neglect in the education system. But what followed belongs to the red-green coalition of left-wing radicals and Hamas supporters, joined, as expected, by young people from the suburbs
Over the past three years, when people demonstrated against Israel across the West, and particularly in France, these were not demonstrations in support of the Palestinians. They were demonstrations in support of Hamas. In support of jihad. In support of violence and terrorism. After all, the slogans shouted at those demonstrations left little room for misunderstanding. There was not a trace of support for the Palestinian Authority, which is considered moderate, no calls for peace and no signs supporting a two-state solution. There was only, and exclusively, support for Hamas' murderous brutality.
When Palestinian flags were waved at events organized by the French left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, they meant Hamas. And this is the very same Mélenchon whose party members are working, and not only behind the scenes, to inflame the riots. He is betting that this will help him in the presidential election, particularly against Marine Le Pen, in about six months.
Opinions differ on how the riots will affect the election. Some argue that Mélenchon will benefit. After all, there are those who believe that only under the presidency of an avowed Israel-hater who has forged an alliance with the rioters is there any chance of a little peace and quiet. But that will work just as well as it worked with Macron.
Others believe that only Le Pen is willing to tell the rioters the truth to their faces, and that her tough approach will bring about a new order. Only one thing is clear: France is more polarized than ever. Unless something unexpected happens in the coming months, the political center will disappear entirely.
Riots in the streets of Paris
(Photo: Jack Taylor/Reuters)
It may be that the student riots in France began because of neglect in the education system. But what followed belongs to the red-green coalition of left-wing radicals and Hamas supporters, joined, as expected, by young people from the suburbs. The keffiyehs worn by many of the demonstrators reflect the fact that identification with Hamas has become a rallying banner for countless groups that have nothing in common except their hatred of Israel.
In the past, the useful idiots identified with Stalin. Later, with Mao. Some identified with Pol Pot, the mass murderer from Cambodia. Others, such as Michel Foucault, admired Khomeini instead. Now they have Hamas. They have learned nothing and forgotten nothing.
In previous waves, they could have claimed they did not know about Stalin's atrocities or those committed by other tyrants. Now they know. And from the creators of the film "NAZA" to Mélenchon and others, they nevertheless choose to side with the forces of darkness.
And that is interesting, because the rhetoric is similar. Mélenchon's identification with the rioters recalls his identification with Hamas terrorists. He does not blame the rioters. He blames the police for "repression" and "intolerable violence." And those who smash, destroy, burn and loot are described by him as engaging in a "justified protest." Of course. Just as the rapists of Hamas went out to stage a "justified protest."
If and when Mélenchon comes to power, they will turn against him too. Appeasement has never stopped tyranny. It only whets its appetite. And now the riots are already spreading to Belgium and Italy. They wanted the globalization of violence. They are getting it.