03:03Mandatory credit: La France insoumise
Former leader of La France Insoumise and one of the leading figures in the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not', speaking in Paris on Wednesday.
"Now, it's Lebanon that's being bombed. And we look the other way. All over the world, people look the other way because everyone is uncomfortable. And I want to say again, whatever the situation, it's obviously geopolitical, it's burning up, whatever the situation, we are always morally complicit to what's happening. And we're complicit whether we like it or not," he said.
"About Lebanon, about Palestine, don't look away. Everyone has the right to have an opinion on this situation. But let's not pretend that silence and looking the other way absolve each and every one of us of our responsibilities," he added.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensified over the past week, with Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and the militant group launching barrages of rockets into northern Israel.
Lebanon was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Melenchon's New Popular Front (NFP) came first in the French legislative elections in July, although did not win a majority. President Emmanuel Macron refused to appoint its candidate as PM, arguing that it could not win a confidence vote, and instead picked centre-right veteran Michel Barnier.
'We are complicit whether we like it or not' - Melenchon warns France not to 'look away' from Lebanon
Former leader of La France Insoumise and one of the leading figures in the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not', speaking in Paris on Wednesday.
"Now, it's Lebanon that's being bombed. And we look the other way. All over the world, people look the other way because everyone is uncomfortable. And I want to say again, whatever the situation, it's obviously geopolitical, it's burning up, whatever the situation, we are always morally complicit to what's happening. And we're complicit whether we like it or not," he said.
"About Lebanon, about Palestine, don't look away. Everyone has the right to have an opinion on this situation. But let's not pretend that silence and looking the other way absolve each and every one of us of our responsibilities," he added.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensified over the past week, with Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and the militant group launching barrages of rockets into northern Israel.
Lebanon was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Melenchon's New Popular Front (NFP) came first in the French legislative elections in July, although did not win a majority. President Emmanuel Macron refused to appoint its candidate as PM, arguing that it could not win a confidence vote, and instead picked centre-right veteran Michel Barnier.
Mandatory credit: La France insoumise
Former leader of La France Insoumise and one of the leading figures in the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed that his country was 'complicit' in what was happening in Lebanon 'whether we like it or not', speaking in Paris on Wednesday.
"Now, it's Lebanon that's being bombed. And we look the other way. All over the world, people look the other way because everyone is uncomfortable. And I want to say again, whatever the situation, it's obviously geopolitical, it's burning up, whatever the situation, we are always morally complicit to what's happening. And we're complicit whether we like it or not," he said.
"About Lebanon, about Palestine, don't look away. Everyone has the right to have an opinion on this situation. But let's not pretend that silence and looking the other way absolve each and every one of us of our responsibilities," he added.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensified over the past week, with Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and the militant group launching barrages of rockets into northern Israel.
Lebanon was formerly part of the French empire, under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon following WWI. It declared independence in 1943.
Melenchon's New Popular Front (NFP) came first in the French legislative elections in July, although did not win a majority. President Emmanuel Macron refused to appoint its candidate as PM, arguing that it could not win a confidence vote, and instead picked centre-right veteran Michel Barnier.