France: in Paris, a ceremony against the “universal cancer” of anti-Semitism
Four months to the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, which left 1,160 dead including 42 French people, a ceremony chaired by Emmanuel Macron is organized at Les Invalides to pay tribute to the French victims, this Wednesday February 7. In his speech, the President of the Republic must recall the importance of the fight against anti-Semitism.
The Hôtel des Invalides, in Paris. AFP - BERTRAND GUAY
By: RFI Follow
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Anti-Semitism is a “
universal cancer
”. Where it flourishes, “
all forms of hatred flourish
.” It is this “
clear
” speech, “
more necessary than ever
” according to the Élysée, that Emmanuel Macron will give in the courtyard of the Invalides.
Representatives of all religions were also invited to give meaning to the call for “
fraternity
” and “
appeasement
”, reports
Valérie Gas
, head of RFI’s political service.
This highly anticipated tribute comes late, four months after the October 7 massacre, and while the absence of the head of state at the march against anti-Semitism in November was criticized.
Also read March against anti-Semitism in France: an image of unity that hides deep political divisions
The ceremony promises to be full of emotion
Each of the 42 victims will be represented by a photo with their name. The fate of the three French people still missing will also be discussed, and the families who requested it will be present. France has organized their travel and accommodation, Mr. Macron will meet them privately on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Families who, some of them, asked the president to ban the presence of elected officials from La France insoumise, accused of having refused to qualify Hamas as a terrorist group. The Élysée stuck to the protocol rule and invited those who should be, while specifying that it would be left to the rebels to assess “
the appropriateness of their presence
”.
As protocol requires, LFI elected officials will be there, despite the calls. Their presence also provokes reactions in the National Assembly. Unease among party allies or indignation among deputies from other sides, reports from the Bourbon palace
Raphaël Delvolvé
.
Yes, we want to pay tribute to the people who were killed, but I would like us to be able to all pay tribute to the many Franco-Palestinians killed during the bombings.
01:15
Tribute to the victims of October 7: LFI under fire from critics
Raphaël Delvolve
“I’m doing everything to bring my sister back”
Fifty-five family members of hostages or people killed will attend the event organized at Les Invalides. Our permanent special envoy to Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
, met with Yarden Gonen before his departure for Paris.
A professional nurse, she no longer works. His sister, Romi, is in the hands of Hamas; Romi was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova music festival near Gaza.
Yarden now devotes all her energy, all her time to Romi's release, and this Wednesday, it is with the French president that she hopes to plead her sister's cause. His testimony.
I'm really looking forward to meeting him and asking him to do everything he can.
01:15
The testimony of Yarden Gonen, whose sister is being held by Hamas
Sami Boukhelifa
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