French Rabbi Faces Probe for Shocking Death Threats Against Macron– Here’s What He Said
French police have launched an investigation against Rabbi David Daniel Cohen, a French-Israeli Jew, after his comments about French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy.
Rabbi David Daniel Cohen, residing in Israel, has caused an uproar in France after making death threats against President Emmanuel Macron.
On Friday, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced the opening of a criminal investigation following the threats, which were made in a video Cohen posted on YouTube earlier this month.
In the 37-minute video, the rabbi attacked Macron for his intention to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it "a declaration of war against God." Among other things, Cohen stated that the president "should prepare his coffin" and would be punished for his actions due to his "disrespect towards God."
French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux condemned the comments, calling for the blocking of the content online. He immediately reported the threats to the authorities as part of the legal process. The Chief Rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, also strongly condemned the threats, emphasizing that David Daniel Cohen had never served as an official rabbi in France, had not been ordained at the French rabbinical school, and was not officially affiliated with any rabbinical institutions in the country.
"I strongly condemn the outrageous and intolerable words of David Daniel Cohen. I want to note that he has never held a rabbinical position in France, has not been trained nor graduated from the French rabbinical school," wrote the Chief Rabbi of France.
The investigation has been handed over to the criminal department of the Paris police, which will examine the circumstances of the event and the severity of the threats made against the head of state.