New book reassesses Charles de Gaulle, French Jews, and Israel

Challenging Historical Catchphrases

Co-edited by Denis Charbit and Frédéric Fogacci, the volume addresses two prominent phrases that frequently shape public perception of the French statesman’s legacy. The first involves de Gaulle’s late-life reflection on the early Free French: “Les juifs lucides, une poignée d’aristocrates et les braves pêcheurs de l’île de Sein” (“The lucid Jews, a handful of aristocrats, and the brave fishermen of the Île de Sein”). The second is his widely debated description of the Jewish people following the 1967 Six-Day War during a press conference on November 27, 1967, referring to an “élite people, sure of itself and dominant.”

Biographer Arnaud Teyssier notes that the 1967 statement has often been misinterpreted as the inauguration of a systematic “Arab policy” by Paris, whereas de Gaulle viewed Israel simply as a nation-state facing standard geopolitical responsibilities and temptations of power. Foundation president Hervé Gaymard emphasizes that a historical figure cannot be reduced to isolated quotations, adding that French Jews maintained diverse identities and that their solidarity with Israel did not constitute dual allegiance.

Wartime Encounters and the Formation of Free France

During the formation of Free France in June 1940, de Gaulle encountered numerous Jewish figures whose patriotism and ethical rigor left a lasting impression. While certain members of high society initially leaned toward the Vichy regime of Philippe Pétain—such as René Mayer, who returned to France from London fearing the loss of his nationality—others rallied immediately to the resistance.

Georges Boris, a Jewish socialist and close associate of Pierre Mendès France, approached de Gaulle’s headquarters on June 19, 1940. When nationalist military officers raised objections regarding Boris’s background, de Gaulle firmly dismissed the prejudice. According to historical accounts in the volume, the General declared that he recognized no racial or political differences among those fighting for the republic, stating that he knew only two categories of French citizens: those who performed their duty and those who did not.

Zionism and Early Diplomatic Alignments

Archival records and accounts detailed in the volume trace de Gaulle’s long-standing awareness of the Zionist movement. On August 9, 1940, the General met in London with writer Albert Cohen, who served as a delegate for the Jewish Agency and representative of Chaim Weizmann. Cohen reported that de Gaulle expressed sympathy and admiration for Zionism, having visited Palestine in 1931 and observed its agricultural and societal developments firsthand.

In the 1950s, Israeli leadership under Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion sought close strategic partnerships with Western powers. Due to initial reluctance from Washington to supply advanced weaponry, Israel forged security links with France, facilitated by figures such as Shimon Peres and French defense officials operating outside standard diplomatic channels at the Quai d’Orsay. This cooperation included significant arms deliveries. However, Israeli leadership remained conscious of long-term divergences between French and Israeli foreign policy objectives in the Middle East.