A group of youths firebombed a synagogue in the Paris suburb of Goussainville this past weekend. The synagogue sustained minor damage but no one was injured.
Last week a Jewish school in the southern Paris area was targeted with a firebomb that caused damage but no injuries. And in another anti-Semitic incident last week in France, three persons were arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at a synagogue.
In related news, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior yesterday announced the establishment of an international forum for the struggle against anti-Semitism. Speaking at a Foreign Ministry Press Conference, Melchior said that anti-Semites in recent months have claimed to be “anti-Zionists” in order to justify their attacks on Jews. Many of the recent anti-Semitic attacks have taken place in Europe, particularly in France. Melchior blamed the Arab States for the recent surge in anti-Semitism, noting the attempt by the Arab world to demonize Israel at the UN Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa in September 2001.
Melchior will head a steering committee that will approach well-known leaders from around the world and ask them to serve as executive board members for the newly established international forum.
Last week a Jewish school in the southern Paris area was targeted with a firebomb that caused damage but no injuries. And in another anti-Semitic incident last week in France, three persons were arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at a synagogue.
In related news, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior yesterday announced the establishment of an international forum for the struggle against anti-Semitism. Speaking at a Foreign Ministry Press Conference, Melchior said that anti-Semites in recent months have claimed to be “anti-Zionists” in order to justify their attacks on Jews. Many of the recent anti-Semitic attacks have taken place in Europe, particularly in France. Melchior blamed the Arab States for the recent surge in anti-Semitism, noting the attempt by the Arab world to demonize Israel at the UN Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa in September 2001.
Melchior will head a steering committee that will approach well-known leaders from around the world and ask them to serve as executive board members for the newly established international forum.