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.
Yesterday, Crif had the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the Jewish Mutual Association of Argentina (AMIA) and to discuss about the situation of the Jewish community in Argentina. Ariel Eichbaum, President of AMIA, and Daniel Pomerantz, executive director of AMIA, came to Paris to present an exhibition at the Argentinian Embassy in memory of the victims of the AMIA terror attack, 25 years ago.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder honored Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel, and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, with the 2019 WJC Theodor Herzl Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals who work to promote Herzl’s ideals for a safer, more tolerant world for the Jewish people. Francis Kalifat, President of Crif and Deputy president of World Jewish Congress, was at the award ceremony in honor of Angela Merkel in Munich.
On October 25th, President of Crif Francis Kalifat was present at the tribute ceremony to the victims of the Pittsburgh attack, organized at the US Embassy in Paris, with the help of the Paris office of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
The 10th Crif National Convention will be held on Sunday, November 17, at the Convention Center of Paris. Dozens of conferences, debates, workshops and round-tables will be organized around the theme "A divided France: can we gather against antisemitism?". Among all the conferences, round-tables and wokshops of the day, discover the workshop dedicated to the fight against BDS and Israel delegitimization in Europe.
The 10th Crif National Convention will be held on Sunday, November 17, at the Convention Center of Paris. Dozens of conferences, debates, workshops and round-tables will be organized around the theme "A divided France: can we gather against antisemitism?".
France’s principal masonic organisation has withdrawn a text which accused Crif, the country’s Jewish umbrella organisation and EJC affiliate, of causing antisemitism.