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Sylvie Corbet/AP
PARIS — Greater than 100,000 individuals marched in Paris on Sunday to protest in opposition to rising antisemitism within the wake of Israel’s ongoing struggle in opposition to Hamas in Gaza.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives of a number of events on the left, conservatives and centrists of President Emmanuel Macron’s get together in addition to far-right chief Marine Le Pen attended Sunday’s march within the French capital amid tight safety. Macron didn’t attend, however expressed his assist for the protest and referred to as on residents to stand up in opposition to “the insufferable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism.”
Nonetheless, the chief of the far-left France Unbowed get together, Jean-Luc Melenchon, stayed away from the march, saying final week on X, previously Twitter, that the march could be a gathering of “buddies of unconditional assist for the bloodbath” in Gaza.
Paris authorities deployed 3,000 police troops alongside the route of the protest referred to as by the leaders of the Senate and parliament’s decrease home, the Nationwide Meeting, amid an alarming enhance in anti-Jewish acts in France for the reason that begin of Israel’s struggle in opposition to Hamas after its Oct. 7 shock assault on Israel.
France has the biggest Jewish inhabitants in Europe, however given its personal World Conflict II collaboration with the Nazis, antisemitic acts at the moment open previous scars.
Holding a French flag, Robert Fiel stated marching in opposition to antisemitism is “greater than an obligation.”
“It is a march in opposition to violence, in opposition to antisemitism, in opposition to all (political extremes) which might be infiltrating the society, to point out that the silent majority does exist,” the 67-year-old stated.
Members of the family of a number of the 40 French residents killed within the preliminary Hamas assault, and of these lacking or held hostage, additionally took half within the march, which Paris police stated drew 105,000 members.
Patrick Klugman, a lawyer and a member of “Freethem” committee working to acquire the discharge of individuals held by Hamas and different teams in Gaza, stated the big participation within the march is significant and symbolic in reassuring Jewish communities in France.
“I’m very happy with my nation due to this mobilization,” Klugman stated. “I really feel much less alone than up to now weeks and days.”
Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Consultant Council of Jewish Establishments in France often known as CRIF, stated he was inspired by Sunday’s present of assist, however the query stays, he advised French broadcaster BFM on the march, “what can be carried out (in opposition to antisemitism) tomorrow?”
Tomer Sisley, an Israeli and French actor insisted the huge present of solidarity proves that majority of French residents are in opposition to violence and hate in opposition to any spiritual and ethnic group.
“We’re not Jews, we’re not Muslims, we’re not Christians,” Sisley stated. “We’re French and we’re right here to point out that we’re all collectively.”
French authorities have registered greater than 1,000 acts in opposition to Jews across the nation within the month for the reason that battle within the Center East started.
In a letter addressed to the French on Sunday, Macron vowed that perpetrators can be prosecuted and punished.
“A France the place our Jewish fellow residents are afraid will not be France,” Macron stated within the letter, revealed in Le Parisien newspaper. He referred to as on the nation to stay “united behind its values … and work for peace and safety for all within the Center East.”
Macron stated he’ll attend “in my coronary heart and in spirit,” however not in particular person. “My function is to construct unity of the nation and to be agency on values,” Macron stated Saturday on the sidelines of Armistice Day commemorations to mark the tip of World Conflict I.
French far-right chief Marine Le Pen attended Sunday’s march amid fierce criticism that her once-pariah Nationwide Rally get together has did not shake off its antisemitic heritage regardless of rising political legitimacy.
After arriving to the march with the president of the get together, Jordan Bardella, Le Pen dismissed critics and stated that she and the get together members are “precisely the place we should be.” She referred to as on different politicians “to take a break from fomenting political controversies” in the course of the march.
As of Saturday, officers counted 1,247 antisemitic acts since Oct. 7, practically thrice as many as in the entire of 2022, based on the Inside Ministry.
France has largely banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations, though supporters have marched in a number of French cities up to now weeks, together with hundreds demanding a cease-fire in Gaza in a licensed protest in Paris final Sunday.
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