A march in solidarity with Israel was organized this Monday evening, October 9 in Paris by the Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France), to the Eiffel Tower which was lit up at 8 p.m. in the colors of Israel. In the procession, some 16,000 people, according to the police headquarters, even if some regretted that there were not more non-Jewish people.
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“ Israel will win », chants the crowd in a summer atmosphere. Lots of young people in t-shirts, like this law student. “ We have family there, we want them to know that they are supported, even if we are in France “, she explains. “ I hope that there are other people, other than Jewish people, who will feel concerned to come and show their support. »
And precisely, under high protection, the imam of Drancy, Hassen Chalghoumi, came to bring a message of peace. “ We can criticize Israeli policy, but we do not have the right to kill, we are there to dialogue, we are there to find solutions. Religion, mine, is that of peace […]read the Quran. »
It’s been two days since I slept […]. We are in the 21st century, they want to take us back to the Stone Age, but no! It’s barbaric and it’s criminal!
Hassen Chalghoumi, imam of Drancy
Several political figures also made the trip. The former head of state, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his wife Carla Bruni, the president of the Republicans, Éric Ciotti, and the government spokesperson, Olivier Véran, among others. The left was very discreet, if not absent, despite the presence of the ecologist Yannick Jadot.
This Christian woman also joined the procession. “ Any terrorist act is condemnable and this is a very serious terrorist act “, she says. “ She is a brave lady », thinks a demonstrator. “ She has convictions, the same as ours “. Asked if it is important that there are people who are not of the Jewish faith, she answers: “ Yes, I thank him because there are not many of them. »
Many in the crowd regretted that all of France was not in the streets, not to defend Israel, but against terrorism.
The Minister of the Interior wanted to reassure about the strengthening of security measures, particularly in front of Jewish schools and synagogues. The reality is this: today, when you are Jewish in France, to be able to lead your life, there must be police officers in front of schools and synagogues.
Yonathan Arfi, president of Crif
“ I’m afraid to go out wearing a kippah in the street »: rue des Rosiers, the feeling of worry hovers
Around twenty anti-Semitic incidents have been recorded in France since the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday October 7. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that around ten arrests had taken place, and that the police would monitor in the coming days the 400 places in which the Jewish community meets (synagogues, schools, etc.). Is she worried? Report on rue des Rosiers, famous for its Jewish restaurants.
The feeling of Jews on rue des Rosiers in Paris – Report