DOMINANT ANGLE
Jerusalem is particularly mindful of the international echo of the French riots: Donald Trump's phrase, "France is burning", and the attempt to link the crisis to immigration and then to pro-Palestinian militancy, which Haaretz disputes.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
According to the Jerusalem Post, Laurent Nuñez estimates around 550,000 protesters, the CGT estimates 800,000, and Sébastien Lecornu announces 1,200 arrests on Saturday evening.
- 02
Emmanuel Macron promises "total transparency" on the police response and the possibility for prefects and mayors to ban certain gatherings.
- 03
Donald Trump writes "France is burning!" and urges Paris to "close its borders"; Haaretz notes that the government links the unrest to pro-Palestinian militancy with little evidence.
ANALYSIS
Jérusalem, October 18, 2026. Israel's government views the situation in France, where Saturday, October 17, saw protests against the high cost of living and the decline of public services degenerate into violence in several cities. If hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully, violent groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury stores and supermarkets, and attacked vehicles and police officers. In Limoges, the city hall was set on fire; in Marseille, protesters dressed in black broke in and covered it with graffiti; in Lyon, the tourist office was set on fire.
The government reports the official figures: around 550,000 protesters according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, 800,000 according to the CGT, and 1,200 arrests announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in the evening. The latter promised that the government would not be "intimidated" and accused the far left and delinquents, just a few months before next year's presidential election.
On Sunday, October 18, Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation. The government notes his statement: "Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame." The president mentioned "insurrectional elements" from far-left groups, joined by many delinquents, promised "total transparency" on the police response, ordered an examination of potential intelligence and police preparedness failures, and announced that prefects and mayors could ban certain gatherings. Israel's government places this sequence in the last six months of a term subject to political, budgetary, and social pressures.
The other aspect of the coverage is American. The Jerusalem Post and Arutz Sheva reproduce Donald Trump's message on Truth Social: "France is burning!", immigration of people from "a completely different world" would have "destroyed" a once great country, and Paris should "close its borders". Arutz Sheva publishes the quote without comment.
Haaretz, alone in taking a step back, reports that Israel's government is trying to link the wave of protests to pro-Palestinian militancy, "despite few elements" other than Palestinian flags in the processions, while far-right officials blame the disorder on immigration and evoke a risk of civil conflict.
SOURCES (3)
- Jerusalem PostMEDIUM
- Arutz ShevaMEDIUM
- Haaretz EnglishMEDIUM
