In the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas, there have been reports of a historically high number of attacks against Jews in France. Hate that breeds fear and recalls dark times in history.
– When my grandchildren go to school, the military stands outside. But how long will they live like that, says resident Dany Kleizmans to TV4 Nyheterna.
Several countries experience a wave of anti-Semitism in connection with the war, not least France, which after Israel and the United States has the largest number of Jewish residents.
The artist Dany Kleizmans and his family live in the Jewish quarter of Paris. For the first time, he does not dare to wear his kippah when he goes out.
– Jew, Palestine! Die! We will kill you! Zionist! They have no idea whether I am a Zionist or not. If I wear a kippah, I am apparently a Zionist, he tells TV4 Nyheterna.
Military guards schools
When tensions rise in the Middle East, expressions of anti-Semitism also tend to take a bigger place in France, but after October 7 the hate crimes, slurs and threats are on a different level.
Dany Kleizmans no longer feels safe in his home country.
– When my grandchildren go to school, the military stands outside. But how long will they live like that, with the military guarding Jewish schools and synagogues?
Over 1,000 incidents
In France, over 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in just one month, which is more than the whole of last year. Many French Jews TV4 News spoke to think the hatred is reminiscent of dark times in history.
Clothilde Gavanac studied in Tel Aviv, but moved back to Paris before the war broke out. She no longer thinks that France is a safe country for Jews.
– It feels like we have moved 60 years back in time. I myself was not involved in the Second World War, but I know the history, and it feels like we are experiencing the same thing as previous generations, she says.