By Laurent Fabius and Bernard Cazeneuve, published in the New York Times July 10, 2014
Few democratic societies are as rich in populations of diverse origins as France’s. This is one of the many traits France shares with the United States. Both are countries of immigrants where citizenship is universal and does not depend on one’s ethnic or religious origins.
France, like other countries of the European Union, suffers from so-called “violent radical engagement,” whereby its citizens have been known to join militant activists abroad. One prime example of this phenomenon is French youth departing to Syria to join that country’s militant groups. This engagement of civilians in insurgent areas "in the name of the ummah" (community) is not a new occurrence, as French citizens have already taken part in the conflicts in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Iraq, similarly in the name of jihad.
As long as European authorities fail to take drastic measures against anti-Israel instigators, murderous attacks on Jews will only increase.
It was only a matter of time. The writing – or, to be more precise, the writings – has been on the wall for years. And not just in Europe. I would even dare say that, surprisingly, there have only been a few murderous attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions.
Nowhere is the crisis of modernity felt more acutely than in France where for a quarter-century now globalization has brought moroseness and mistrust on an epic scale. Uneasy with capitalism, uncomfortable with flexibility, unpersuaded by the so-called Anglo-Saxon model, France has retreated into its rancor. Immigrants and openness have constituted threat more than possibility.
The shared fear of Muslims has not yet led major Jewish organizations to lift their boycotts against dubious politicians in far-right parties.
The investigation of Sunday’s shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussel is still ongoing, and assessments regarding the motive are varied, but Belgian authorities say the attack, which is being investigated as a terror incident, has anti-Semitic characteristics.
The Representative Council of Jews of France (Crif), an affiliate of the World Jewish Congress, partnered with the Shoah Memorial to organize a visit for students from Seine-Saint-Denis - a French department northeast of Paris - to the memorial late last month.
75 years ago, on January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp was liberated by the Red army. As a symbol, the Paris Shoah Memorial chose to inaugurate the renovated Wall of Names. An official ceremony took place in the presence of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron. Crif President Francis Kalifat was among the distinguished guests.
This morning of January 27, 2020, the biting cold of Upper Silesia was hitting everyone of us. No matter the temperature, the hearts of the members of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) delegation were full of warmth. Surrounded by 200 survivors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, we lived the historic day of the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the former Nazi camp.
The AJC survey reveals that antisemitism represents a major daily issue for French Jews as well as for French society as a whole. The Director of AJC Paris, Anne-Sophie Sebban-Bécache, answered our questions.
On Thursday January 23, 2020, 47 heads of states and governments gathered in Jerusalem to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. A historic event. Crif President Francis Kalifat accompanied the French President's trip to Israel. He told us about the highlights of Emmanuel Macron's journey.
On 27 January 2020, Jewish communities, nations around the world, and survivors themselves gathered at the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp.