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.
On 20th November, the President of Crif visited Vienna for an international conference on the situation of Europe in the face of anti-Semitism. During his visit he was able to meet with the Austrian President and the Chancellor of the State. Francis Kalifat also attended the Board of Directors of the European Jewish Congress.
The most comprehensive and detailed proposals and recommendations, including legislative, to combat antisemitism were presented in Vienna few days ago to high-level European officials, including President Alexander van der Bellen and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, during a conference held by the Austrian Presidency of the European Council.
The Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), comprising nearly 150 presidents of Jewish communities worldwide, held an unprecedented gathering at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris on Monday. During their meeting, the first of its kind at UNESCO, the WJC delegates signed a commitment to the preservation of Holocaust memory and to fighting antisemitism worldwide. Crif President Francis Kalifat was there at the meeting.
This attack once again underlines that anti-Semitism is an ideological poison and a deadly threat. Crif expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims and wishes for the recovery of the wounded.
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.
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