MINISTER OF INTERIOR: REGIONAL UNITS TO PREVENT ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS

"I asked the prefects to organize meetings with the leaders of all the local Jewish communities. I asked them to set up security-monitoring units in each administrative region and I asked the deputy prefects to prepare with all the mayors awareness rising actions to the values of the Republic aimed at the younger generation," said the Minister.

"Anti-Semitic attacks are unbearable in our Republic," went on de Villepin. "We need a suitable police and justice response. Currently some 500 Jewish sites are protected by the police," said Dominique de Villepin.

In a related issue, Israel Ifrah, the 18-year old yeshiva student of Epinay Sur Seine who was stabbed in the chest by a man who shouted "Allah is great" (see our last Newsletter) left hospital. After two surgeries, he is recovering in the Alps with his relatives. The alleged perpetrator was arrested. Eskander Guessine, 32, allegedly stabbed nine people in Epinay within three days, including Israel Ifrah. Ifrah is the only Jewish victim. The others include Muslims, Blacks and a Portuguese man.