Macron: Antisemitism has deep roots and ‘new masks’
PARIS (JTA) — Amid attacks in Europe against Jews following the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe condemned antisemitism “that always tries to justify itself with a new pretext,” which he said has deep roots in France.
Philippe’s remarks, which were unusual for his acknowledgment of the phenomenon’s depth in his country, came Sunday during a speech before approximately 700 participants in the eighth annual conference of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities.
“In our country, antisemitism is alive. It is not new, it is ancient. It is not superficial, it is well-rooted and it is alive. And it hides always behind new masks, attempting to justify itself through diverse reasons. This ideology of hate is here, it’s present and it’s making some French Jews to make aliya,” Philippe said, using the Hebrew word for immigration by Jews to Israel. “It should be a spiritual choice but it pains all citizens of the republic when it’s a form of self-exile, made out of insecurity and fear.”
Following US President Donald Trump’s declaration on Wednesday, a kosher restaurant was attacked in the Netherlands by a Palestinian waving his national flag, and 20 men hurled firebombs at a synagogue in Gothenburg, Sweden. In Paris and Lyon, protesters against the declaration promoted a boycott of Israel, which is illegal in France, and cheered and called for freedom for Palestinians convicted of murder charges who are in Israeli prisons.
Philippe also reported that antisemitic attacks in France had dropped by 20% with a total of 216 incidents taking place between January and October 2017. On Trump’s recognition, which France opposes, Philippe said: “No one can deny the attachment of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.” But, he added that peace between Israel and the Palestinians must be “negotiated on the basis of international laws,” and this makes France “worried about unilateral decisions of any country.”
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said during her address at the CRIF event that “antisemitism, which cloaks itself as anti-Zionism, must never be allowed to succeed.” She said her city opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, whose promotion is illegal in France and is considered incitement to discrimination or racial hate.
Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Emanuel Macron while wrapping up a state visit to France.
Macron urged Netanyahu, during a joint press conference, to “show courage” and make “gestures encouraging peace” toward the Palestinians. He suggested Israel freeze construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said that “the most important thing about peace is to recognize that the other side has the right to exist. I think that is what is holding up the peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”
He repeated an invitation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for peace talks.
“Paris is the capital of France. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel,” Netanyahu told Macron. “It’s been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years. It’s been the capital of the Jewish state for 70 years. We respect your history and your choices, and we know that as friends, you respect ours.”
CRIF president Francis Kalifat echoed Netanyahu’s words on Jerusalem in defending his organization’s call on Macron to follow Trump’s example, which Kalifat said: “disturbed some true friends” of CRIF.
“Jerusalem has been for the past 3,000 years the spiritual capital of the Jewish people. Jews all over the world form four corners of the world have kept Jerusalem at the heart of their prayers,” he said.