The government launches “conferences to combat anti-Semitism”

According to the ministry responsible for the fight against discrimination, the aim of this event is to “launch work” to define “a common base of republican values”. Several associations and representatives of religion are invited.

The government is launching a “conference against anti-Semitism” on Monday, May 6. The minister responsible for the fight against discrimination, Aurore Bergé, brought together in Paris this morning the heads of several associations (Licra, SOS Racisme, etc.) and representatives of the six main religions to discuss the subject. Witnesses who have been victims of anti-Semitism will also come and share their experiences.

It is “start a job” to define “a common base of republican values”explains the ministry to AFP, in order to “recognize anti-Semitism as it is and fight effectively against this scourge.” Personalities will be designated at the end of the morning to work on this “common ground”. “When we see the volume, unfortunately, of anti-Semitic acts (…), it is the whole of society that must wake up”declared Aurore Bergé on BFMTV-RMC Friday, evoking a “terrifying resurgence”.

Anti-Semitic acts on the rise

Aurore Bergé announced in March the organization of these meetings, in response to a column published by the collective “Nous vivres” and 70 personalities, who called on European candidates to get involved “without detour and without complacency” against anti-Semitism. On the other hand, and contrary to what was initially planned, no political leader will be present, “to avoid making it a political subject before the European elections”explains the ministry.

The number of anti-Semitic acts recorded in France almost quadrupled last year, to 1,676 compared to 436 in 2022, according to the Interior Ministry. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (Crif) deplores an outbreak after October 7, the date of the bloody attacks by Hamas against Israel. According to an Ifop survey for the French branch of the American Jewish Committee published on May 4 in The Parisian, 94% of French people of Jewish faith believe that anti-Semitism has increased over the past ten years (+21 points compared to 2022). This same survey shows that 35% of 18-24 year olds feel that it is “justified” to take part “Jewish French people because of their real or supposed support for the Israeli government”.

At the World level, the Anti-Defamation Leaguethe main group defending Jewish rights, expressed alarm on Sunday “unprecedented level” of anti-Semitic acts recorded in 2023, with the war between Hamas and Israel fueling a “fire which was already out of control”.