Israeli ambassador to France warns: Antisemitism in Europe at highest levels since WWII

Israel's ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, said that antisemitism in France and across Europe has surged to levels not seen since World War II.

“We are facing an enormous wave of antisemitism in France and across Europe. It is something not seen since the last century, with the rise of Nazism,” Zarka said.

“The major outbreak occurred on October 8, 2023, when even as Israel mourned its dead and counted the kidnapped in Gaza, crowds took to the streets in Paris, London, New York, and elsewhere, shouting ‘Death to the Jews,’” Zarka continued.

The ambassador pointed out that the explosion in antisemitism since the Oct. 7 war in Gaza began has been fueled by foreign actors, overwhelmingly Qatar and Turkey, who have funded pro-Palestinian organizations pushing hatred for Jews in the West.

He also asserted that French President Emmanuel Macron fueled antisemitism with his announcement that France will recognize a Palestinian state next month at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Zarka added, “While Macron did not intend to promote such hostility, his remarks criticizing Jewish support for Israel have had the effect of emboldening anti-Jewish violence.”

Robert Ejnes, the director of France’s largest Jewish umbrella organization, CRIF, noted earlier this month that Macron’s announcement to recognize Palestine had served to promote antisemitism.

“Today, we believe he's promoting antisemitism by doing what he's doing,” Ejnes stated. He said that many French Jews are now seriously considering leaving France for good. “It is no longer a question of whether to make aliyah, but when and under what conditions,” he said.

The ambassador emphasized that although French authorities are making efforts to combat antisemitic incidents, they are unable to keep pace with their sheer volume.

“The Ministry of the Interior and the police are doing crucial work, but the sheer volume of attacks – assaults, vandalism, and other antisemitic incidents – is overwhelming. Jews are hiding their identity; they do not display the Star of David, wear a kippah, or mark their homes out of fear for their safety,” he said.

Zarka’s remarks on the perilous situation for Jews in Europe followed the destruction of a memorial tree planted by Ruth Halimi in memory of her son, Ilan, who was tortured to death over three weeks in a brutal antisemitic attack.

The ambassador called the felling of the tree “one of the most shocking events.”

Last week, ALL ISRAEL NEWS reported that French authorities stopped renewing work visas for security guards working for the Israeli airline company, El Al.

In June, the French Defense Ministry blocked Israel from displaying weapons at one of the world’s largest defense technology exhibitions – the Paris Air Show.

In May, the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) released a report detailing how French textbooks address antisemitism. The report warned that while France’s 440,000 Jews face rising hate crimes and discrimination, textbooks provide only superficial references to modern antisemitism and omit recent attacks. At the same time, it praised the curriculum’s discussion of Nazi ideology, survivor testimonies, and postwar geopolitical changes.

France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, with about half a million people. It also has between six and seven million Muslims, representing roughly 10% of the country’s population.