Anti-Semitism in France
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In the first six months of 2004, French authorities reported 180 incidents of anti-Semitism, prompting Justice Minister Dominique Perben to promise enforcement efforts would become ôeven firmerö while also promising ômore dissuasive judicial response.ö The rising incidence of anti-Semitism in France against its estimated 600,000 Jews has seen many immigrate to Israel, despite government assurances. There are several reasons why Jews across Western Europe have become increasingly subjected to anti-Semitism. These reasons relate to contemporary political realities in the Middle East, the U.S. and Europe but these also stem from historical anti-Semitism against Jews throughout Europe. This analysis will discuss the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, focusing on France. A conclusion will discuss whether or not this crisis is one that lends itself to resolution. In Sarcelles, France, home to FranceÆs largest population of Jews, increasing numbers of anti-Semitism incidents continue to occur. Whenever they leave their concentrated district, Jews complain of being harassed, insulted and called ôdirty Jews,ö and schoolchildren are often beat up or robbed on their way home from school. Many Jews came to Sarcelles because of a safety-in-numbers outlook, with rising anti-Semitism in former locations like Saint Denis, Belgium, and even Britain. The Palestinian intifadeh has spilled over into the Muslim-Jewish community in France, wh
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nti-Semitic incidents, French authorities have promised to step up efforts to catch those guilty of anti-Semitic acts as well as to prosecute the perpetrators more harshly. In the midst of rising fear and alarm among ParisÆ SarcellesÆ population of Jews, Roger Cukierman, head of the Council of Representative Jewish Institutions in France, said to the Jewish community, ôWe have to keep calm and not panic. We can praise the French governmentÆs commitment to combating racism.ö
A great deal of the hostility against Jews comes from those of Arab or Muslim background, like the Molotov cocktails thrown by three Muslim teens at the Mazel Tov synagogue in the Beaux-Arts district of Montpellier. France has a long history of friendly relations with Arab states, most often a friendship that comes ôat the expense of Israel,ö according to the Economist. Likewise, the French have a history of ôracial prejudice, including anti-Semitism.ö Forces against Jews in France are fueled by the growing European condemnation of both U.S. and Israeli foreign policy in the Middle East. Likewise, far-right groups across Europe in Austria, Italy, Denmark, and elsewhere embody anti-Semitic histories or elements and have even begun to form coalitions.
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Jews France, Western Europe, Muslim Arab, Wilson Quarterly, French European, World War, French Europeans, Sarcelles France, Economist Vol, Jacques Chirac, jews france, muslim arab, western europe, anti-semitism france, europe france, world war, muslim arab background, jewish community, arab background, world war ii, rising anti-semitism, political realities, anti-semitism western europe, muslim arab descent, war ii duality,
Approximate Word count = 2427
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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