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.
In this new section, discover the beautiful Israelis success stories. Today, focus on Tech it Forward, an Israeli agency whose mission is to connect Israeli startups with foreign companies and investors. An attractive project and a growing success!
Last week, dozens of countries, including Norway and six EU countries, voted at the United Nations in favour of two resolutions that accuse Israel of violating women’s rights and human rights. Crif President Francis Kalifat expressed his lack of understanding of this vote. He regretted that France had voted in favour of the resolutions, alongside those who "daily flout human rights".
On July 16, 1942, Esther Senot escapes the Vel d'Hiv roundup. A few months later, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She is barely 15 years old. Esther Senot testified as a holocaust survivor at the national ceremony commemorating the Vel d'Hiv roundup, on July 21st. And she has something to tell you.
In the context of the football match between RC Strasbourg and Maccabi Haifa FC, the French Prefect of the East Region issued a deeply disturbing decree. President of Crif Francis Kalifat spoke with the Deputy Minister of the Interior, and with the Prefect's Cabinet Director. A new decree should be published, removing in particular the ban on national flags and signs of support for both teams.
During 2019 Crif annual Dinner, French President Emmanuel Macron had committed to dissolve several extreme right movements. After dissolving the Bastion Social group in April, the French Government announced yesterday the dissolution of the neo-Nazi group 'Blood and Honor Hexagon'. Crif welcomes this decision, which shows the involvement of the Government into the fight against hatred.