By The newspaper
31 Oct 2023, 17:36 PM EDT
Paris has raised alarm bells as a wave of anti-Semitic incidents has gripped the City of Light, evoking memories of the 1930s.
Last Monday night, around 60 Stars of David were discovered painted on buildings in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. These incidents have attracted widespread attention and condemnation from both the public and political leaders.
France is currently dealing with a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents, and these latest developments have only exacerbated concerns, according to a BBC report.
According to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, more than 850 such acts have been reported in France since the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7.
The seriousness of the situation is further underlined by the Parisian authorities, who have announced the start of an investigation into these acts of property degradation aggravated by racist intentions.
Victims, long scarred by the horrors of the past, are struggling to understand the resurgence of that hatred.
In a statement, the mayor of the 14th district declared that these acts “recall the events of the 1930s… that led to the extermination of millions of Jews.” The symbolism behind the Stars of David and the chilling historical parallel cannot be ignored.
According to the BBC, Emmanuel Grégoire, deputy to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, promised that the Stars of David graffiti would be removed immediately and a thorough investigation would be launched. “Anti-Semitism continues to kill,” he emphasized, “we will never give up the fight.”
Anti-Semitic incidents were not limited to the 14th arrondissement. Similar graffiti, accompanied by disturbing inscriptions such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will win,” were found in several Parisian suburbs, including Vanves, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Aubervilliers and Saint-Ouen.
The mayor of Saint-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane, did not mince words and asked that the authors of these “anti-Semitic and racist” graffiti be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne quickly condemned these acts, calling them “shameful.” A survey for the French television network BFMTV revealed that 83% of French people are deeply concerned about the sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents.
Political leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron, have expressed concern about the possible contagion of tensions caused by the conflict between Israel and Hamas to France. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti reported that some 400 people have been arrested for anti-Semitic acts this month, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
The heartbreaking recurrence of anti-Semitism in Paris is a stark example of the need for vigilance and unity in the face of hate.
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