Richard Prasquier, president of the CRIF (Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions or the Conseil représentatif des institutions juives de France) noted in the organization’s annual political dinner that “Anti-Semitism in France is back.” Prasquier denounced the “explosion of hatred” he claims was apparent during the organized protests against the Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip.
In January 2009, 352 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the country, of which 50 were considered violent. The CRIF president reserved his harshest criticism for the UOIF (French Union of Islamic Organizations or the Union des organisations islamiques de France) who he accused of, among others, “glorifying Hamas”.
When asked, Nicholas Sarkozy stated last week that “the security of the Jewish community concerns the entire Republic.”
