LONDON: France’s Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia has sparked significant controversy after urging Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza during a recent interview on BFM TV.
The rabbi’s remarks, made in a four-minute segment, have drawn widespread criticism for their explicit support of Israeli military actions against Hamas.
Korsia, 60, asserted that Israel’s military response was necessary to protect its citizens, framing the conflict as a necessary “act of war.”
He said: “Everyone would be very happy if Israel finished the job and we could finally build peace in the Middle East without people who, permanently, only want one thing — the destruction of Israel.”
The rabbi defended Israel’s actions, dismissing concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza and claiming that Hamas is the party responsible for the ongoing conflict.
When asked if he was uncomfortable with Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, the rabbi replied: “I have absolutely no reason to be ashamed of what Israel is doing in the way it conducts the fighting. I’m never uncomfortable with a policy that consists of defending one’s citizens.”
The tense exchange continued when the rabbi was asked if he condemned the massacres in Gaza as he did the Israeli deaths on Oct. 7, to which he responded: “They are not of the same order.”
Haïm Korsia soutien Benyamin Netanyahou :
" Les massacres à Gaza, c'est un fait de guerre.[...] les massacres à Gaza, ce n'est pas du même ordre." pic.twitter.com/Qv6z8dojxN— L'oeil Medias (@LoeilMedias1) August 26, 2024
The remarks have provoked outrage across France, with MP Aymeric Caron accusing Korsia of “defending war crimes,” a serious charge under French law that could result in a fine of up to €40,000 ($44,463) or a prison sentence of up to five years.
“On the basis of Article 40 of the Criminal Code, I have contacted the chief prosecutor of Paris to report these comments by the chief rabbi of France, publicly defending war crimes in Gaza,” Caron posted on X on Tuesday.
French prosecutors are currently reviewing the evidence, including video footage from the interview, before deciding on any legal action.
Rabbi Korsia, who previously served as a chaplain to the French Army, has not yet commented on the complaint.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed over 40,000 lives, with a third of the victims being children, according to health officials in Gaza.
Israel’s military actions have faced growing criticism for their perceived disproportionality, prompting the International Criminal Court to launch a war crimes investigation.
In May, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas leaders Yahya Singer, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran in an alleged Israeli operation.
