Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that France had become a victim of an invasion of extremist Islam after economic protests devolved into anti-Semitic riots. The Times of Israel reports that as France implements curfews and prepares to deploy troops to restore order, Netanyahu urged the country to fight back against extremists. French officials also acknowledged that more could have been done to curb the violence.
“They did not prepare in time; they simply gave up. They succumbed to the invasion of extremist Islam,” Netanyahu said, according to the interpreter’s French translation on French-language channel i24News.
Asked what advice he would give to France, Netanyahu said: “Fight back, do not pursue a policy of appeasement — fight against the extremists.”
“They will devour France, they will devour Europe,” he continued. “I told my friend, President [Donald] Trump, ‘Western civilization that is ready to fight — and that is Israel.’ We of course protect and defend ourselves but in doing we are protecting you all.”
He also said he told French President Emmanuel Macron after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that “if we do not eliminate them here, you will have them in Paris,” adding, “and that is exactly what is happening.”
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for a rise in the number of olim (immigrants) from France as Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer has ordered accelerated immigration procedures for French Jews. Qualita CEO Ariel Kandel, whose organization represents French olim, said that 52% of Jews living in France have expressed a desire to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel).
New protests in other European countries, including Italy and Albania, have raised concerns that similar riots could erupt elsewhere. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by introducing new security measures yesterday. Meanwhile, French Jewish leaders have expressed concerns that France’s security efforts have yet to restore confidence in the authorities’ ability to contain the violence.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the French security forces tasked with restoring peace, order, and trust. We also pray for the French Jews and other civilians whose lives have been disrupted by this wave of violence. May they be blessed and protected as they work to recover and move forward.