Le Pen: France ‘Isn’t Responsible’ For Mass Arrest Of Jews During WWII

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen suggested France wasn’t responsible for the arrest of thousands of Jews in Paris during World War II Sunday.

The National Front leader downplayed the state’s role in the roundup of 13,000 Jews at the Vel d’Hiv cycling track in 1942. The mass arrest was ordered by Germany and a majority of the Jews were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

“I think France isn’t responsible for the Vel d’Hiv,” Le Pen told the LCI television channel Sunday. “I think that, in general, if there are people responsible, it is those who were in power at the time. It is not France.”

Le Pen said France has taught children that they have reason to criticize the state, and only shows off the darkest sides of history to them.

“We have taught our children that they had every reason to criticize France, to see only the darkest historical aspects perhaps,” she said. “I want them to be proud of being French once more.”

Israel’s foreign ministry released a statement Monday to condemn Le Pen’s comments.

“We condemn the declarations by Marine Le Pen stating that France is not responsible for the deportation of Jews from its territory during the Holocaust,” the statement reads. “The declaration is contrary to the historical truth, which has been expressed by French presidents who have recognized the country’s responsibility for the fate of French Jews who died in the Holocaust.”

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