MINISTER OF INTERIOR INVITES CRIF

According to the figures made public by Minister Villepin, only 30 per cent of the anti-Semitic aggressions would be perpetrated by Muslim youths. Extreme right wing militants would account for another 20 per cent of the aggressions, and the rest, i.e. 50 per cent, would be perpetrated by youths without any specific cultural, ethnic of religious background.

According to Frank Melloul, a close advisor of Dominique de Villepin, the figures would prove that most of the anti-Semitic attacks would be due to a "contagion" effect.

The President of CRIF suggested to Minister Villepin that the mayors of the city where an anti-Semitic aggression is perpetrated by a youth below age should summon the culprit together with his parents and deliver a solemn speech on civics.

Minister de Villepin promised to outlaw neo-Nazi and extremist Muslim groups. Member states of the European Union will soon share their files on neo-Nazis and on Muslim groups recruiting for the Jihad, the Holy War against the West. The minister also announced a budget increase of 3 million Euros to protect the Jewish schools and synagogues.

The US organization Anti-Defamation League sent a letter to Dominique de Villepin encouraging him to continue his action against the neo-Nazi groups in France. ADL wrote it hopes the outlawing of these groups would help the Jewish community and smaller communities to feel less exposed to violence. ADL said it wished to pursue a fruitful dialogue with the French authorities on issues of common interest.