Invited to the second dinner given by CRIF South West and Aquitaine, the junior minister in charge of local government stated clearly that “the only valid response is one of firmness.” He praised the policy undertaken by the government “under the impulse of Nicolas Sarkozy” and announces several measures: the renewal of the financial effort undertaken by the State to provide better security for buildings belonging to the Jewish community; the physical presence of the police in the immediate vicinity of the most sensistive sites; the facilitation of CCTV monitoring around community sites. The minister also insisted on the multifaceted fight against “preachers of hatred”, confirming that 21 Islamist activists had been expelled from the country in 2005 and 5 others “put at a distance”, since the beginning of the year.
Brice Hortefeux reminded his audience that in the National Assembly he had defended a draft law that would allow the disbanding of groups of hooligans who “give a deplorable image to certain sports stadiums”. The minister for local government administration pronounced himself in favor of educations steps “that must seek to ensure that tolerance is a cardinal virtue of our republican pact.”
Noting that there had been a drop of 48% in the number of anti-Semitic acts and threats in 2005, but with an increase in the first quarter of 2006, Brice Hortefeux declared solemnly: “It is important that our compatriots understand that those who spit on your children and defile the graves of your ancestors, are defamating the honor of the Republic and consequently expose themselves to a ruthless response by the State”.
Referring to the situation in the Near East, Brice Hortefeux underlined the fact that by suspending direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, the European Union did not intend to “punish” the Palestinian people. “However, their government must understand that it will remain totally isolated if it does not respond to the expectations of the international community, namely: renouncing violence, recognizing the State of Israel, recognizing the international commitments underwritten by the Palestinian Authority”. The minister went on to denounce the “irresponsible statements” made by the Iranian president, which “are creating the conditions for an unfair amalgamation of Islam with terrorism”.
In the presence of 350 people representing the political and civil society of the South West region, Roger Cukierman, who had made the trip with Haïm Musicant, the General Director of CRIF, referred to the murder of Ilan Halimi, deploring “the state of barbarism and the absence of civic responsibility that we have reached today.” The president of CRIF revealed that he would be meeting with the President of the Republic in order to propose the launching of a national campaign against barbarism.” It is essential that we come back to civil relations based on respect,” he added.
Roger Cukierman expressed his concern about the Iranian president’s statements “vowing to to destroy another country, denying the Holocaust and determined to impose his understanding of religious life on the rest of the world through nuclear force”. The president of CRIF warned that Iran had equipped itself with missiles that could reach Muslim countries that do not respect Sharia (Islamic) law as well as Europe.
Roger Cukierman expressed his satisfaction with the unanimous nature of the protests, but at the same time deplored the absence of concrete retorting measures against Iran. “The problem is to chose,” said the CRIF leader very solemnly, “between the position of Chamberlain and Daladier in 1938 in Munich and that of Churchill and De Gaulle.” He expressed his hope that “the France I love” will be committed to a position of firmness.
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