On the "PSG-Hapoel" case

I planned to write a long post about the schocking event that took place after the football game in Paris opposing Hapoel Tel Aviv and Paris Saint Germain.

But i read this morning this testimony by Jeremy Fain, that was there and that shares with us his views. I think it is a good read.

I don’t think you can say, as i am often asked, France is a racist country at all, but if you needed any other proof that some extreme racism does exist in France then you have your feed.

Comments

[Jeremy Fain]

Hey Ouriel,

Indeed, the perception of France in Israel is often the one of an antisemistic, racist country. This is obviously very wrong, and as you mention, skinheads represent a tiny part of the population. Broadly speaking, French governments of the last decade have sincerely tried to fight racism and antisemitism.

This being said, the image of Israel in France is definitely very wrong either. The bulk of Frenchmen see Israel either as a big Mea Shearim (a very religious central Jerusalem area) or an ongoing battlefield. The truth is that Israel is a real diverse country, geographically and socially speaking, a sound, modern democracy.

[John]

"The bulk of Frenchmen see Israel either as a big Mea Shearim (a very religious central Jerusalem area) or an ongoing battlefield."

This is a kind of antisemitism.If the bulk of Frenchmen think that , it proves that French society verges on antisemitism.

Antisemitism is widespread in France.It comes either from either from the left or the right.

90% of racist violence in the past 6 years in France targeted Jews while Jews comprise less than 1% of the population and are much less visible than blacks or muslims who comprise between 15 and 20% of the French population.

[Jeremy Fain]

John,

As a Jewish Frenchman born in France and living in France, I can tell you you're wrong.

Seeing Israel as a big Mea Shearim isn't antisemitism, it is simple ignorance - and the media don't help.

I don't know where you got your stat from. Could you please provide us with the source? It looks pretty counterintuitive. Thanks in advance.

[John]

I will answer Jeremy with plain facts.
I will only add in the meantime that I fully know well France and its society and know quiet well the jewish community in France as well.
Ignorance leads to antisemitism by the way so there is no big difference.Ignorance is perpetuated by the media who are linked to the government in France.
So is it antisemitism in the classical way ? Certainly not.But it is nonetheless a form of antisemitism.Antisemtism is a constant in history while its forms are not.

I will answer Jeremy.

[John]

"En outre, la violence de ces actes semble être en augmentation", indique l'ECRI, citant par ailleurs la Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme selon laquelle les actes antisémites constituaient 72% des actes racistes recensées en 2003."
http://www.aidh.org/antisem/fr-2005.htm

Therefore , at least in 2003 , according to the European Union
and to the "Comission nationale consultative des droits de l'hommme" , 72% of racist acts targeted Jews.
When one thinks that Jews are less visible than blacks or muslims and comprise about 1% of the French population , that many muslims are not well integrated in French society and Muslims comprise between 10 and 20% of the French population , these data are even more impressive.

Moreover , the most severe and repulsive racist acts (the torture and murder of Ilan Halimi, the destructions of jewish schools and synagogues to name but a few examples) are targeting many more times the Jews than other communities.

It is true that the French government has started to understand the seriousness of the situation but it has acted too little and very late , denying or downplaying the phenomena.
However, the French population has not showed anything so far but indifference.The demonstrations against antisemitism came mostly from the jewish community with very few non jews.

[Jeremy Fain]

Thanks for the source John, an interesting article on a no less interesting website.