“I hesitated to demonstrate behind French flags and right-wing politicians, but the importance of the fight against anti-Semitism prevailed,” said Nathalie Cassard, 53, a left-wing voter who was among the 105,000 Parisians who paraded. told AFP in the march For the republic, against anti-Semitism.
Other demonstrations took place in Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nice and were marked by controversy because Marine Le Pen’s party joined in (her father was convicted for anti-Semitic statements, but the leader of the National Union always said that anti-Semitism was a common thread ). which the militants are not allowed to cross), which led Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s unsubmissive France, which in turn was also criticized for its ambivalence towards anti-Semitism, to boycott the initiative.
In the front row of the march sat Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, the presidents of the National Assembly (the initiative was convened by President Yaël Braun-Pivet) and the Senate, and former heads of state Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. The current one did not participate, which received some criticism, but in an article published the day before Le Parisien Emmanuel Macron condemned the “unbearable resurgence of rampant anti-Semitism” and called on France to unite “under its values and its universalism”.
Since October 7, authorities in France have registered more than 1,200 anti-Semitic acts. This includes approximately 200 pro-Hamas messages or explicit support for the Islamic group’s terrorist acts.
“If it becomes known that three times more anti-Semitic acts have taken place in one month than in all of 2022, it is necessary to take action,” said Senator Bruno Retailleau of Os Republicans (center right).
Among the anonymous demonstrators, Jews admitted to being afraid and hiding the outward signs that identify them. “Never in my life had I thought of participating in this kind of march,” says Jérôme, a 54-year-old “secular Jew.” “It’s like reopening scars that are 3,000 years old.”
Abderrahim, 39, was among the Muslims who wanted to join the charge against anti-Semitism. “If we are serious Muslims, we must come,” he declared, then reflected that those who do not take to the streets are “afraid of being seen as traitors.”
Source: DN
