ADL Blasts France Government For Increased Violence Against Jews


By Herb Brandon
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem, Israel --- September 9, 2008 ..... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York has blasted the France government for the recent racial attack on three Jewish teens by a group of Muslims in Paris on Saturday.

The Jewish teens, ages 17 and 18, who have been identified as Dan Nebet, Kevin Bitan and David Boaziz, are leaders of the Bnei Akiva youth group in Paris' 19th District.

"In light of this incident, the previous attack and the approaching Jewish High Holidays, it is especially important for the government of France to ensure that the Jewish community is safe from harm," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We have every confidence that the government and the law enforcement community are taking the assault seriously and will ensure that the community feels secure during the High Holy Days and every day."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

"One must remember that these attacks also represent a real threat to the stability of the French government, whose people and police have also been repeatedly attacked. But in Jerusalem we are only concerned with the welfare of both Jews in Israel and abroad. If the French government cannot protect Jewish life, the State of Israel will."

The Jewish teenagers were hospitalized with serious injuries. One suffered a broken nose and jaw and all three victims sustained bruises. The Jewish victims were advised to report the anti-Semitic to police. Police opened an investigation and are now searching for the Muslim teenagers responsible for the attacks.

The chairman of the Jewish Students Union in France, Raphael Haddad said that the Muslims attacked the Jewish students with stones. Haddad also said the incident occurred on Petit Street in the 19th District, not far from where a 17-year-old Jewish youth was attacked and seriously injured by immigrants on June 21.

The attack is one of a long series of racial attacks in Europe in general and in France in particular. France has Western Europe's largest population of both Jews and Muslims.

France faced a surge in anti-Semitic crime starting in 2000 after tensions between Israelis and Palestinians flared up in the Middle East.

Two years ago Islamic arsonists set fire to a Jewish school north of Paris that had been badly damaged in another arson attack in 2003.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned the violence as the Jewish Agency's envoy in Paris, Rafi Zaush, told Israel Defense Forces Radio that attacks in the 19th District are common but most incidents are less violent and therefore not reported by the media.

Dan's father, told the Israel newspaper Haaretz that his son said, as they were walking down the street, "Four or five Arabs of African origin started to throw walnuts at Kevin. When he went up to them to ask them why they did it, they surrounded him and knocked him down. Kevin and David moved in and very quickly more Arabs joined in and started to beat the three with their fists and with chains."

A large number of Jews live in the 19th District of Paris, France.

"The atmosphere here is difficult. Now I need to protect our sons so they will not talk a great deal, because that is what we were told by the community's security people. This time it was my son; it can be anyone. The Jews want to live in peace but it's impossible with the Arabs here. We go around with a skullcap and that bothers them, but we don't care. If we have to take off our skullcaps to live better, it's better to leave now."

It was the second anti-Jewish attack to take place in the 19th District in three months and was quickly denounced by government officials, with Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe" calling for increased security and the immediate arrests of the Muslim attackers.

On June 23, Rudy Haddad, 17, was severely beaten by a group of Arabs holding iron bars in the 19th District several blocks from the site of the most recent assault.

Governmental sources in Jerusalem, commenting on the attack in Paris, said there are concrete solutions for these kinds of racial attacks.

"There was a reason for the establishment of Israel," said a spokesperson who requested to remain anonymous.

"It was to provide a safe haven for the survivors of the Holocaust and to make certain that all Jews, everywhere were would have a means of defense. It has been rumored that members of elite Israel Defense Forces units including Givati, Handasa, Golani, Paratroops and Border Police have taken "vacations" abroad and have created ambushes for racial attacks such as what occurred in Paris.

We are not talking about or suggesting the creation of vigilante squads from the days of the Jewish Defense League, but rather elite Israel combat soldiers in plain clothes working with the Mossad and other Israel intelligence services to put an end to these attacks. One must remember that these attacks also represent a real threat to the stability of the French government, whose people and police have also been repeatedly attacked. But in Jerusalem we are only concerned with the welfare of both Jews in Israel and abroad. If the French government cannot protect Jewish life, the State of Israel will."


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