Riots in France: MAGA and Israeli accounts pointed out

Accounts linked to the US MAGA movement and Israel have linked the October riots in France to radical Islamism and immigration. This is indicated by an internal memo from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs consulted by Reuters. The document evokes “hostile stories”, broadcast while the demonstrations focused on the high cost of living and the degradation of public services.

These messages were widely relayed on X. Between October 16 and 18, the ten most viewed publications from officials, media and influencers linked to MAGA exceeded 49 million views. Posts from Israeli officials, government accounts, media and influencers have had more than 35 million views.

These findings raise the question of the use of French social tensions by foreign actors to defend their own political discourses. Asked by Reuters, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not respond. The agency specifies that it could not independently verify the assertions contained in the reports consulted.

In France, CNews also fueled this drift: its antenna relayed accusations of targeting Jewish businesses in Marseille and of the presence of weapons of war among the rioters, denied by the authorities concerned. An overwhelming journalistic failure.