Mass protests in France, which supposedly began as a demonstration in support of striking teachers and a protest against poor economic conditions, are being exploited by Islamic extremists. Amid reports of synagogues being ransacked and vandalized, JNS reports that a Jewish leader is calling on the French government to declare a state of emergency.
“I believe we need to declare a state of emergency in France, send in the army, massively increase law enforcement personnel and arrest these rioters and vandals by every means,” Bruno Benjamin, the president of the Marseille-Provence branch of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish institutions, told JNS.
On Sunday morning, congregants of one synagogue in Paris found that it had been ransacked on Saturday, Jewish community sources said. It was not immediately clear whether that incident in the 19th arrondissement was anti-Semitic or connected to the rioting, Robert Ejnes, the executive director of the CRIF’s national head office in Paris, told JNS.
There have been many anti-Semitic incidents, and widespread reports of demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags. Jewish residents in some areas near Paris are reportedly too afraid to leave their homes. Vandals have also taken advantage of the unrest to loot businesses, including those owned by Jews. A report published Sunday by the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) identified more than 1,300 social media posts linking the riots to Jews or Israel.
The synagogue that was ransacked has been identified as the Ohalei Yaakov synagogue in Paris’ 19th arrondissement. Marseille, home to one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities, has been particularly affected by the unrest, with numerous businesses looted. Journalists have reported that Muslim-owned businesses were largely left untouched. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or deaths resulting from attacks specifically targeting Jewish civilians.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for peace in France and for the safety of French Jews at this troubling time.