Ebusitanus
08-31-2004, 02:06 PM
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1093921793243&p=1008596975996
The situation in France won't be easy for French Jewry in the near future. The latest developments in the police investigation into the arson attack on a Jewish social center in Paris, where a Jew has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack, is bound to put French Jews in a very uncomfortable position.
Although the police have not yet confirmed whether the man detained for interrogation is the author of the arson, the media seem to be convinced that he is the perpetrator.
If this is in fact the case, then the attack will mark the third anti-Semitic act perpetrated by someone with psychological problems.
The first such case was when rabbi Gabriel Farhi attempted to to lay the blame for his self-inflicted stab-wounds on young Muslims. The reasons for his manipulation are still not clear and the French Police are yet to announce a final verdict on the matter, but the French public has already made its mind.
The RER D affair is the second embarrassing incident for French Jews. The news that a mother and her baby were attacked on a Paris train by Arab assailants, who reportedly drew swastikas on the mother's stomach, attracted a fortune of condemnations and publicity. Even French President Jacques Chirac rushed to condemn the "horrific act". The story that made international headlines turned out to be nothing but a hoax prepared by a mentally disordered woman.
The icing on the cake was the arson at the Jewish social center at Paris' arrondissement 11. If it is proven that it is a Jew who perpetrated the attack, then Jews in France will be so ashamed that they will certainly become ever so indifferent to anti-Semitic incidents.
In fact, people attacked or insulted just for being Jewish will think twice before going to a police station to file a complaint. They will also have to brave the sarcastic remarks made by their colleague at work or elsewhere labeling them as paranoiacs.
Even those Jews who have the guts to file a complaint are discouraged to follow up on their cases, which usually come to dead ends - few arrests are made, and, of course, no arrestee ends up behind bars.
Earlier this month, a Parisian court ordered two Muslim youths, expelled for insulting and beating a young Jewish pupil, be reaccepted. The virdict said that there was no evidence of anti-Semitic action and ordered the school to reaccept the two Muslim pupils.
The tip of the iceberg of anti-Semitism in France was revealed Monday when the French Justice Minister announced that 300 anti-Semitic acts have been registered since the beginning of the year.
We are speaking of registered acts. God knows how many more go unreported? And, more so, in those 300 cases, how many arrests are made, and how many people are convicted?
French Jews have the feeling that nothing will change for the good, on the contrary, things will only get worst.
When they hear their representatives, like the president of Paris' Jewish councils or the former president of the UFJS (Union of French Jewish Students), declaring that publicity on anti-Semitism is exaggerated and saying that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "understands nothing about France, we live very well here and we are totally secure," they have the sensation that those people who are supposed to protect them are helpless. Words are beautiful but for many French Jews the daily reality in the street is ugly indeed.
The formula is simple. French Jews are not safe and when they see fellow Jews acting like the suspect in the arson attack on the Jewish social center, they understand that publicity can only add oil to an already fiery stove. So the less they complaint, the safer is their future.
The situation in France won't be easy for French Jewry in the near future. The latest developments in the police investigation into the arson attack on a Jewish social center in Paris, where a Jew has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack, is bound to put French Jews in a very uncomfortable position.
Although the police have not yet confirmed whether the man detained for interrogation is the author of the arson, the media seem to be convinced that he is the perpetrator.
If this is in fact the case, then the attack will mark the third anti-Semitic act perpetrated by someone with psychological problems.
The first such case was when rabbi Gabriel Farhi attempted to to lay the blame for his self-inflicted stab-wounds on young Muslims. The reasons for his manipulation are still not clear and the French Police are yet to announce a final verdict on the matter, but the French public has already made its mind.
The RER D affair is the second embarrassing incident for French Jews. The news that a mother and her baby were attacked on a Paris train by Arab assailants, who reportedly drew swastikas on the mother's stomach, attracted a fortune of condemnations and publicity. Even French President Jacques Chirac rushed to condemn the "horrific act". The story that made international headlines turned out to be nothing but a hoax prepared by a mentally disordered woman.
The icing on the cake was the arson at the Jewish social center at Paris' arrondissement 11. If it is proven that it is a Jew who perpetrated the attack, then Jews in France will be so ashamed that they will certainly become ever so indifferent to anti-Semitic incidents.
In fact, people attacked or insulted just for being Jewish will think twice before going to a police station to file a complaint. They will also have to brave the sarcastic remarks made by their colleague at work or elsewhere labeling them as paranoiacs.
Even those Jews who have the guts to file a complaint are discouraged to follow up on their cases, which usually come to dead ends - few arrests are made, and, of course, no arrestee ends up behind bars.
Earlier this month, a Parisian court ordered two Muslim youths, expelled for insulting and beating a young Jewish pupil, be reaccepted. The virdict said that there was no evidence of anti-Semitic action and ordered the school to reaccept the two Muslim pupils.
The tip of the iceberg of anti-Semitism in France was revealed Monday when the French Justice Minister announced that 300 anti-Semitic acts have been registered since the beginning of the year.
We are speaking of registered acts. God knows how many more go unreported? And, more so, in those 300 cases, how many arrests are made, and how many people are convicted?
French Jews have the feeling that nothing will change for the good, on the contrary, things will only get worst.
When they hear their representatives, like the president of Paris' Jewish councils or the former president of the UFJS (Union of French Jewish Students), declaring that publicity on anti-Semitism is exaggerated and saying that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "understands nothing about France, we live very well here and we are totally secure," they have the sensation that those people who are supposed to protect them are helpless. Words are beautiful but for many French Jews the daily reality in the street is ugly indeed.
The formula is simple. French Jews are not safe and when they see fellow Jews acting like the suspect in the arson attack on the Jewish social center, they understand that publicity can only add oil to an already fiery stove. So the less they complaint, the safer is their future.