By Laurent Fabius and Bernard Cazeneuve, published in the New York Times July 10, 2014
Few democratic societies are as rich in populations of diverse origins as France’s. This is one of the many traits France shares with the United States. Both are countries of immigrants where citizenship is universal and does not depend on one’s ethnic or religious origins.
France, like other countries of the European Union, suffers from so-called “violent radical engagement,” whereby its citizens have been known to join militant activists abroad. One prime example of this phenomenon is French youth departing to Syria to join that country’s militant groups. This engagement of civilians in insurgent areas "in the name of the ummah" (community) is not a new occurrence, as French citizens have already taken part in the conflicts in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Iraq, similarly in the name of jihad.
As long as European authorities fail to take drastic measures against anti-Israel instigators, murderous attacks on Jews will only increase.
It was only a matter of time. The writing – or, to be more precise, the writings – has been on the wall for years. And not just in Europe. I would even dare say that, surprisingly, there have only been a few murderous attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions.
Nowhere is the crisis of modernity felt more acutely than in France where for a quarter-century now globalization has brought moroseness and mistrust on an epic scale. Uneasy with capitalism, uncomfortable with flexibility, unpersuaded by the so-called Anglo-Saxon model, France has retreated into its rancor. Immigrants and openness have constituted threat more than possibility.
The shared fear of Muslims has not yet led major Jewish organizations to lift their boycotts against dubious politicians in far-right parties.
The investigation of Sunday’s shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussel is still ongoing, and assessments regarding the motive are varied, but Belgian authorities say the attack, which is being investigated as a terror incident, has anti-Semitic characteristics.
April 8th and 9th, Crif was invited by the Maltese Presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE), and joined French Minister Aurore Bergé for these interviews during the OSCE conference on antisemitism in member countries, in Malta.
The UN Commission on the Status of Women – CSW was held in New York from March 11 to 22, 2024. Crif was part of the French delegation led by Minister Aurore Bergé and was able to attend the various events organized by Member States and civil society organisations.
On March 19, 2024, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) organized a side event on the sidelines of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was the guest of honor on this panel. Crif was also invited to participate.
This meeting with António Guterres was an opportunity to highlight the UN's inadequate approach towards Israel following the October 7 massacre and the organization's late and imperfect response to sexual crimes committed by Hamas terrorists.
Under the leadership of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the world's seven major Jewish organizations formed the J7, a working group against antisemitism. In December, the group met in person for the first time, in Paris.