“Antisemitism is not only a problem for Jews. It is first and foremost a problem for others.” President Emmanuel Macron.
In the past month, France has witnessed a disturbing surge of antisemitic incidents, ranging from vandalism and graffiti to physical assaults and threats. According to the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, there have been more than a thousand antisemitic acts recorded since the 7th of October, when a Jewish teacher was stabbed in the street by an Islamist extremist.
Some examples of these acts are:
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On October 7, a Jewish teacher was stabbed in the street by an Islamist extremist who shouted “Allahu Akbar” and “dirty Jew”.
On October 15, a synagogue in Strasbourg was defaced with swastikas and anti-Jewish slogans.
On October 18, a Jewish cemetery in Lyon was desecrated with Nazi symbols and insults.
On October 21, a Jewish woman was attacked by two men who tried to rip off her Star of David necklace and spat on her face.
On October 24, a Jewish family was harassed and threatened by a group of youths who threw stones at their car and yelled “death to the Jews”.
This represents a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, and a 70% increase compared to 2019. The interior minister denounced these acts as “unacceptable” and “intolerable” and vowed to reinforce the protection of Jewish sites and communities across the country. He also announced that a national plan against antisemitism will be presented by the end of the year, with measures to combat online hate speech, educate young people, and support victim1s.
The recent wave of antisemitism in France is part of a broader trend that has been observed in Europe and beyond, fueled by radical ideologies, conspiracy theories, and social media. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated existing prejudices and tensions, as some have blamed Jews for spreading the virus or profiting from it. In addition, the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas has sparked anti-Israel protests that have often turned into antisemitic expressions.
The Jewish community in France, which is the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world, has faced recurrent attacks and discrimination for decades. Many Jews have reported feeling unsafe or unwelcome in their own country, and some have chosen to emigrate to Israel or elsewhere. According to a survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 95% of French Jews consider antisemitism to be a serious problem in their country, and 46% have experienced some form of antisemitic harassment in the past five years.
Antisemitism is not only a threat to the Jewish community, but also to the values and principles of the French Republic. It undermines the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity that are at the core of French identity and democracy. It also fuels division and hatred among different groups of citizens, weakening the social cohesion and solidarity that are essential for facing the challenges of today and tomorrow.
That is why it is imperative to stand up against antisemitism in all its forms, and to defend the rights and dignity of every human being. As the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz: “Antisemitism is not only a problem for Jews. It is first and foremost a problem for others.”
The national plan against antisemitism is an update of the previous plan that was adopted in 2015 and revised every three years. It contains 80 measures across five categories: measuring, describing, educating, sanctioning, and supporting. Some of the measures are:
Training civil servants on discrimination and hate speech. Studying discrimination in hiring and access to housing. Streamlining the process for victims to file complaints. Making harsher penalties for government employees who participate in racist or antisemitic speech or actions.
Requiring teachers to receive training on antisemitism and racism. Giving every student the opportunity to visit historical or memorial sites linked to antisemitism or racism. Setting up roving exhibitions about antisemitism and racism in schools. Adapting French law to prevent accused perpetrators from fleeing the country.
The plan was developed by the Interministerial Delegation for the Fight Against Racism and Antisemitism (DILCRAH), with advisory input from the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The AJC praised the plan as “robust” and “essential” and noted that it includes indicators to measure its effectiveness.