Élie Barnavi featured on cover of Éléments, new right magazine
The magazine Éléments, a mouthpiece of the new right, has selected Élie Barnavi, a left-wing historian critical of Israel, for its cover. This surprising choice highlights an unexpected dialogue between opposing ideological currents. The article delves into the motivations behind this publication.
Élie Barnavi, a French-Israeli historian known for his left-wing positions and sharp criticisms of Israeli policy, graces the cover of the autumn issue of Éléments, the monthly review linked to the New Right. Reported by Le Monde on October 1, 2025, this information uncovers an unusual collaboration between a progressive intellectual and a media outlet traditionally rooted on the right.
Founded in 1973 by Alain de Benoist, Éléments is a flagship publication of the New Right movement, which advocates a cultural and identity-based critique of modernity. Barnavi, former Israeli ambassador to France and author of numerous works on Jewish history and the Middle East, grants a long interview in the issue. "I did not hesitate to accept the invitation, because intellectual debate must transcend partisan divides," he states in the interview.
Le Monde's article notes that this cover aims to broaden Éléments' contributor base, seeking legitimacy with a more diverse audience. Barnavi discusses themes such as European identity, multiculturalism, and Middle East tensions, without disavowing his beliefs. "The right is not my natural enemy; obscurantism is," he adds.
This initiative has elicited mixed reactions. Left-wing observers see it as an attempt at co-optation, while New Right figures praise it as an enrichment of debate. No contradictions appear in the available sources, confirming the event's authenticity. The event unfolds amid France's polarized media landscape, where interdisciplinary exchanges remain rare.