Fake Bernard Henri-Levy quote on French elections triggers anti-Semitic avalanche

A satirical article suggesting that the French-Jewish philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy plans to emigrate if a far-left politician is elected president triggers a slew of anti-Semitic comments on Twitter.

In the fake interview published last week on the satirical website NordPresse, Levy, one of the country’s best-known celebrities, is quoted as saying, “If Melenchon is elected, I’m leaving France.”

Jean-Luc Melenchon, who is the presidential candidate of the French Communist Party and several other far-left groups, has made considerable gains in polls ahead of the first round of the presidential elections on April 23.

Using the hashtag #BHL — the Jewish philosopher’s initials — hundreds of Melenchon supporters circulate the fake interview on Twitter, adding anti-Semitic comments about it.

“Shove off to Israel or the States, you son of a bitch,” one Twitter user writes in an apparent reference to the fact that Levy, who is a citizen neither of Israel nor of the United States, is Jewish. Another writes, “If Melenchon wins BHL knows where he can return.” The latter adds a banner advertising Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to tourists.

The L’Expresse daily accuses the satirical website of encouraging anti-Semitic discourse by inventing a quote by Levy.

— JTA