ELNET and Pro-Israeli Parliamentary Influence in France

ELNET (European Leadership Network) was founded in 2007 and constitutes the primary vector of pro-Israel influence within European parliaments. Its model is based on organizing fully-funded trips to Israel for elected officials, allowing them to visit strategic sites (Knesset, military bases, border with Gaza).

Between 2017 and 2024, ELNET financed 101 trips declared by French parliamentarians (55 deputies, 46 senators), including 99 in Israel and 2 in Germany. The cost is 4,000 EUR per participant, fully covered by ELNET. In addition to these declared trips, journalistic investigations reveal “numerous undeclared round trips.”

The political distribution is highly unbalanced: LR (39 stays), Renaissance (32 stays). The 'regular' parliamentarians include Caroline Yadan, Meyer Habib, Karl Olive, Constance Le Grip, and Sylvain Maillard.

Particularly controversial trips occurred after October 7, 2023: 10 days after the attacks, 10 deputies + Manuel Valls + Yael Braun-Pivet visited an Israeli military base. In January 2024, 22 senators traveled to Israel while the war in Gaza had caused 25,000 deaths.

Direct Israeli funding is documented: the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has transferred 72,000 EUR to ELNET France. ELNET France failed to fulfill its legal obligation to register as an organization receiving foreign funds.

According to The Intercept (December 2025), more than 100 American foundations have donated at least 11 million dollars to ELNET's American operations since October 7. In Germany, ELNET took more than 100 members of the Bundestag to Israel, where they were exposed to “strongly one-sided narratives” which “helped pave the way for some of the largest arms sales in Israel's history.”