Representatives of the Jewish community in France fear a surge in violence amid a sharp escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. French police have stepped up protection for Jewish schools and synagogues.
How writes Euronews, Jews in France fear fueling anti-Semitic sentiments in the country due to wars Hamas with Israel. It is worth recalling that more than half a million representatives of this people live there – the largest Jewish community in Europe and the third largest in the world after Israel and the United States.
The number of citizens of Arab origin is much larger, ranging from five to seven million. Last weekend, according to the police, dozens of cases of anti-Semitism were suppressed, and there were arrests. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the 30-year-old lawyer says:
“The uptick in violence there (in the Middle East). Yes, that’s one of the reasons why communities in France are regularly in conflict with each other, very often unnecessarily, over things that have nothing to do with the matter.”
An ordinary Parisian also expressed his opinion on condition of anonymity:
“Once Israel retaliates violently, which will happen very soon, there will automatically be an outbreak of violence in the French suburbs. There will be security problems in France. It seems logical to me.”
Gérald Darmanin, head of the French Interior Ministry, noted that so far the police “do not see any serious threats against Jews living in France.” Nevertheless, the authorities ordered prefects to strengthen the protection of synagogues and Jewish schools, especially in Paris and its suburbs.
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