New wave of anti-Semitism in France

Hawk cross on a painting of a known Holocaust survivor and a disgraced Jewish cemetery in Strasbourg. That's two of all the anti-Semitic acts that hit France this spring.

The deeds of the last few years, some with a deadly end, have caused many French Jews to emigrate to Israel. Julie and Jérôme, a 30-year-old couple living in central Paris, have begun to consider a move.

The Israeli state helps new Jewish citizens the first year and offers, among other things, teaching Hebrew.

- Before, I always said, no, no, no, but now I am likely to move. You have to ensure that your child grows up in a safe environment, says Julie.

Among many Jews we meet there is a feeling that the government is not doing enough. That there are laws but that they are not used properly. On social media, however, it is the law of the jungle that prevails, Jérôme thinks.

- Anyone can go to a right-wing extremist site and post tributes to Hitler and spread extreme opinions. Nothing is done to prevent this. The French state must understand the scale of the problem and not just make public statements when someone is murdered.

Anti-Semitism is found in both right- and left-wing groups. More recently, it has also gained attention in poorer suburbs among people with backgrounds in North Africa and the Middle East. Countries from which immigration to France has been great.

France has no statistics on what opinions those who commit hate crimes have, but in a survey by the EU Human Rights Agency, which came in 2018 in which more than 3,000 French Jews participated, 7 percent said that perpetrators had right-wing opinions, 21 percent left-wing opinions and 33 percent radical Muslim views.

- In many Arab countries, propaganda against Jews has been broadcast for decades via state television channels and mosques. And Jews can often be held accountable for Israeli politics in the conflict with Palestine, says Johannes Heuman, associate professor at the University of Jönköping, who has researched nationalism in France.

In the same survey, on the question of anti-Semitism being a very big problem in the home country, 65 percent of the French Jews surveyed responded that it was.

This was by far the highest figure in the survey. On average, it was 45 percent.

Gabriel Fahri is a rabbi and leads a small synagogue in a quiet area of ​​Paris. But despite this, extensive protection is required when members come to pray on the weekends.

- Can you understand that we need military or police protection every time we pray in the synagogue? It is very worrying.

France has an anti-Semitic history. Everything from anti-Semitic writings in the 19th century to cooperation with the Nazis during World War II occupation of the country. But while hatred of Jews has existed, the country also has a strong anti-racist tradition.

Lately there have been major manifestations of anti-Semitism. Tens of thousands of Frenchmen have walked the streets and squares of many cities.

Rebecca Narewski is one of those who decided to do something. She had never arranged a manifestation before.

- It was important for me to act and stop waiting. It was a success, several hundred came.

Rebecca's father managed to escape the Holocaust, but several of his relatives were killed.

- I'm glad Dad doesn't see what's happening now. I can't talk about it without it being thrown in my throat, but all this has to come to an end. It is not OK.