(Paris) The French government announced on Monday “a 300% increase” in anti-Semitic acts in France in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023, referring to a “surge”.
“No one can deny this anti-Semitic surge,” declared the head of government, Gabriel Attal, in a speech during the 38e dinner of the Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France) in Paris.
“No one can deny the fact that it is estimated that French Jews represent 1% of the French population, but that more than 60% of anti-religious acts are anti-Semitic acts,” he added.
He mentioned “366 anti-Semitic acts” recorded in France in the first quarter of 2024.
Faced with this increase, “not an act must go unpunished, not an anti-Semite must have peace of mind”, affirmed the Prime Minister, promising to “show exemplary firmness in each act”.
Deploring that it is not possible, in French law, to know precisely the number and convictions for acts committed because of religion, he announced that he had asked the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, “to find the means to implement a census of these cases and these convictions throughout France”.
“Islamism is a serious danger for our Republic and one of the most dangerous, most destructive faces of anti-Semitism,” he also affirmed, promising to “tackle Islamism and separatism head-on.” “.