Death Threats Against Macron Over Palestine Recognition

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Rabbi David Daniel Cohen, who speaks French and reportedly lives in Israel, sparked a storm of reactions after he made death threats to French President Emmanuel Macron in a video posted on YouTube on August 3. As a result, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation on Friday for "death threats against a head of state".

In the 37-minute video, titled "Tefillah Moshe Rabbeinu - The End of France and Iran" (which has since been set to private), Cohen lashed out at Macron, comparing him to the Roman emperor Titus, who destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. He accuses the French president of anti-Semitism and claims that Macron will end up like Titus because, as he says, by proposing recognition of the State of Palestine, he has declared "war on God".

- The man who leads France must know... He better start packing his suitcase. God will show what it means to oppose His will, the rabbi said in the video, adding that Macron's actions were "provoking divine wrath." He advised the French to leave the country, because, as he claims, they will suffer the consequences of God's punishment.

In the same video, he also lashed out at Palestinians, calling them "nomads" and "temporary residents" who, according to him, have no right to the land they are on.

The French Interior Ministry confirmed that the comments were reported via the Pharos platform and that measures were taken under Article 40 of the French law, which stipulates the obligation to report criminal offenses to the competent authorities.

Strong condemnation also came from the top of the Jewish community in France. The Chief Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia, spoke out via social media, saying:

- I strongly condemn the disgusting and unacceptable statements of Daniel David Cohen. He has never held a rabbinical position in France, was not educated or graduated from any rabbinical institution in France.

Cohen runs the YouTube channel Archives 260, which contains over 17,000 videos on biblical history and Hebrew culture. He also appears regularly on the Torah Box platform, where he contributes religious and educational content aimed at the French-speaking world.

The investigation into the case is being led by the criminal brigade of the Paris judicial police.