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.
Last week, President of Crif, as well as members of the Executive Board and regional Crif Presidents, went on an official trip to Israel. On the agenda, meetings with political leaders, from the majority and the opposition, with the representatives of the Olim de France, and with people from civil society. Let's discover the meetings of the official Crif journey.
On June 12th, Crif learnt about the inauguration of a new street name called Nakba Lane by the mayor of the city of Bezons. The street sign was accompanied with a second inscription in Arabic, as well as with a comment specifically qualifying David Ben Gurion of "war crimes". The President of Crif, Francis Kalifat immediately got in touch with the Chief of Staff of the Home Secretary. The latter contacted the Prefect of the Val-d'Oise department who sent a letter to the mayor of Bezons. The withdrawal of street sign was handled by the police forces who removed it in the afternoon.
Last March, Macedonia adopted a definition of anti-Semitism that includes Israel hatred. Crif met with the President of the Jewish Community in the Republic of Macedonia, Berta Romano Nikolikj, in order to know and understand better the little Jewish community of Macedonia. We aslo got in touch with CEO of the Holocaust memorial center of the Jews from Macedonia, Goran Sadikarijo, who told us everything about the upcoming exhibition about the history of the Macedonian Jews.
"We call upon all the institutions of the State and the City, the Justice, the Religious and Spiritual Authorities of the country and the Civil Society, to condemn unambiguously and without reservation this desecration and to stand with absolutely zero tolerance against such phenomena of violence and intolerance."
This week, the Yom Haatzmaut celebrations began throughout Israel and around the world. Israel is celebrating its 70th birthday and the world intends to celebrate this new decade as it should!
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