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 3rd edition of the Armenian-Jewish friendship day, held by the Sassoun association (chaired by Dr Paul Kieusseian) took place on January 29th in Paris, at the city hall of the 16th district.
World President of KKL Daniel Atar wished to meet with Francis Kalifat, together with a group composed by the KKL President for France, the KKL delegate for Jerusalem, the KKL general delegate, as well as several european KKL delegates.
Mr Yaakov Litzman, Israeli minister of health, met with a group of representatives of the French Jewish community during his stay in Paris on January 17th.
January 25th 2017. Francis Kalifat attended the International Holocaust Day ceremony held by the European Jewish Congress, together with the newly elected President of the European Parliament Mr Antonio Tajani.
More than 2,000 people express their support for Israel, while at a few hundred meters opened the Paris Conference, bringing together 70 nations to talk about peace between Israel and the Palestinians - but without Israel and the Palestinians.