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Cycle of Violence Countering Antisemitism and Extremism in France

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Breaking the Cycle of Violence Countering Antisemitism and Extremism in France January 2016 ON HUMAN RIGHTS, the United States must be a Acknowledgements beacon. Activists fighting for freedom around the globe We would like to give special thanks to The David Berg continue to look to us for inspiration and count on us for Foundation for their generous support. In addition, we support. Upholding human rights is not only a moral would like to thank Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock, the Alan obligation; it’s a vital national interest. America is B. Slifka Foundation, Robbie and Brad Karp, the Longhill strongest when our policies and actions match our Charitable Foundation, and the Tali and Boaz Weinstein values. Philanthropic Fund. Their combined support has made Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and the production of this report possible. action organization that challenges America to live up to This report is the result of research trips by Susan Corke, its ideals. We believe American leadership is essential in Floriane Hohenberg, and Rebecca Sheff to France during the struggle for human rights so we press the U.S. 2015 as well as interviews and consultations with a wide government and private companies to respect human range of human rights activists, government officials, rights and the rule of law. When they don’t, we step in to national and international NGOs, multinational bodies, demand reform, accountability, and justice. Around the scholars, attorneys, journalists, and victims. We salute world, we work where we can best harness American their courage and dedication, and give heartfelt thanks for influence to secure core freedoms. their counsel and assistance. Tad Stahnke, the former We know that it is not enough to expose and protest Vice President of Research & Analysis, contributed to the injustice, so we create the political environment and research, including in a trip to France, for this report policy solutions necessary to ensure consistent respect during his time at Human Rights First. for human rights. Whether we are protecting refugees, A special thanks to: August & Debouzy, Schulte Roth & combating torture, or defending persecuted minorities, we Zabel, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Nonna focus not on making a point, but on making a difference. Mayer, and Timothy Meyers. We are very grateful to For over 30 years, we’ve built bipartisan coalitions and Floriane Hohenberg for extensive research, writing, and teamed up with frontline activists and lawyers to tackle editorial contributions. Thanks to Sarah Graham for issues that demand American leadership. graphics and design, Meredith Kucherov and David Human Rights First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan Mizner for editorial assistance, and the Human Rights international human rights organization based in New First communications team for their work on this report. York and Washington D.C. To maintain our – Susan Corke and Rebecca Sheff independence, we accept no government funding. COVER PHOTO: People light candles during a vigil in © 2015 Human Rights First All Rights Reserved. Kathmandu November 15, 2015, following the deadly This report is available online at humanrightsfirst.org attacks in Paris. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar WHERE TO FIND US 75 Broad Street, 31st Floor 805 15th Street, N.W., #900 1303 San Jacinto Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10004 Washington, DC 20005 at South Texas College of Law, Houston, TX 77002 Tel: 212.845.5200 Tel: 202.547.5692 Tel: 713.955.1360 Fax: 212.845.5299 Fax: 202.543.5999 Fax: 713.510.1935 www.humanrightsfirst.org “I call on you to remain united, because—as I previously told the French people—it’s our best weapon. We must show our determination to fight against anything that could divide us, and to be merciless when it comes to racism and anti-Semitism. We must show just how effective solidarity is. We are a free nation that does not give in to pressure, that is not afraid, because we have an ideal that is greater than we are and we are able to defend it wherever peace is threatened.” –French President François Hollande, January 9, 2015 “Once again we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it's an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité are not only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share. And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening.” –U.S. President Barack Obama, November 13, 2015 CONTENTS Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 1 Antisemitism in France ...................................................................................... 3 Historical Origins of Jews in France ........................................................................ 3 French Jews Confront Multiple Forms of Antisemitism.......................................... 4 Antisemitic Incidents on the Rise ............................................................................. 6 Antisemitic Attitudes Persist Among Many Groups ................................................ 8 Complex Array of Root Causes Contributes to Antisemitism ................................ 9 Institutional Responses ................................................................................... 12 French Government ................................................................................................. 12 French Parliament ................................................................................................... 16 French Civil Society................................................................................................. 16 U.S.-France Relations .............................................................................................. 18 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 20 Recommendations to the U.S. Government........................................................... 20 Recommendations to the French Government ...................................................... 22 Recommendations to the French Parliament ........................................................ 24 Recommendations to Private Foundations and Other Donors............................. 24 Recommendations to French Civil Society ............................................................ 24 Recommendations to Internet Companies ............................................................ 25 Endnotes ........................................................................................................... 26 BREAKING THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE 1 Executive Summary The deadly terrorist attacks on November 13 in This report analyzes the nature and extent of Paris, coming less than a year after the killings at antisemitism in France and presents Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket, have recommendations for combating it by promoting focused long overdue attention on the resurgence tolerance and inclusiveness. Based on public of antisemitism and extremism in France. France information and interviews with a range of has both the largest Jewish and one of the largest government officials, civil society representatives, Muslim communities in Europe. With the rise of and academic experts, the report examines this the xenophobic far-right National Front party, this problem within broader and interrelated situation is a tinderbox. “Antisemitism is phenomena, including the ascendancy of the far- unacceptable no matter where it comes from,” right party the National Front, mounting anti- said the Chief Rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, in immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment, the spread July 2015. “When there is a Republic with strong of Islamic extremism, and the increasing values—liberty, equality, fraternity, which we often alienation of many Muslims in France. While the forget—we have security and serenity for report assesses spikes in antisemitic incidents everyone, including Jews.” related to developments in the Middle East, it focuses on France and the domestic dynamics Violence targeting Jews and Jewish sites has led contributing to this problem. However, we see to a heightened sense of insecurity, and an France as a test case for the plight of Jews on the increasing number of Jews are relocating in or continent because the pertinent trends there also outside of France for security reasons. Some exist in other European countries. observers have drawn comparisons to Europe in the 1930s. While that dark history continues to The report’s core findings include the following: cast a cautionary shadow, as it should, the French Jews confront multiple forms of comparison is inapt. Nonetheless, antisemitism is antisemitism, including antisemitic hate crimes a grave threat to human rights, and its resurgence ranging in severity from insults and graffiti to in France should be of great concern to the assaults; organized crimes motivated by French government and its allies, including the Jews’ perceived wealth; antisemitic incidents United States. associated with public protests against the Antisemitic violence harms not only its direct government and the Israeli-Palestinian victims but entire Jewish communities, preventing conflict; and terrorist attacks targeting Jews them
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