CRISIS IN FRANCE: DRAMATIC RISE IN ANTISEMITISM
Sign the Protest to the French President and Prime Minister
From: Simon Wiesenthal Center survey@wiesenthal.net
January 26, 2002
The continuing attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in France have now
surpassed three hundred since October 2000 -- more numerous than in any
other Western country. The targeting of synagogues, schools, cemeteries, and
individuals has occurred with alarming frequency since the outbreak of
Intifada II in October 2000. Meanwhile, the refusal of French authorities to
acknowledge these hate crimes as anti-Jewish in nature is prompting a
growing feeling of abandonment and of isolation among French Jewry.
In an attempt to confront the problem head on, the Wiesenthal Center has
had ongoing discussions with officials in the Prime Minister's office and
other government leaders but to date, there is little evidence that the
French government is prepared to deal forcefully with the problems at hand.
For example, in a June 2001 meeting with the French Foreign Minister, the
Center's delegation was told that assaults on Jewish institutions were "only
acts of suburban hooliganism."
The Center is redoubling its efforts in dealing with this ongoing crisis. It
is just releasing Antisemitism 2002 in France a report which lists the most
serious antisemitic attacks. Rabbi Cooper, the Center's associate dean has
just spent the week in France where he briefed leaders of the Council of
Europe on the continuing attacks on Jewish institutions. He, together with
Dr. Shimon Samuels, the Center's Paris-based Director for International
Liaison, participated in a one day Wiesenthal Center conference,
"Anti-Jewish Aggression" under the auspices of the mayor of Paris. They also
met with the French Interior Minister to press for long delayed measures to
curb the violence, prosecute the perpetrators, and act against those who
inspire the hate.
Let your voice be heard and help us to fight the growing threat of
antisemitism in France by signing the petition that will be sent directly to
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and President Jacques Chirac of France.
http://www.wiesenthal.com/eContactor/eContactor.cfm?eid=882806&mid=193&lid=3
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Please forward this email to family and friends so that together our voices
can be heard.
Thank you.
To send the petition in French.
http://www.wiesenthal.com/eContactor/eContactor.cfm?eid=882806&mid=193&lid=3
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