As France faces rising antisemitism, a Paris suburb was the scene of a remarkable sign of the ties between Israel and France, as the banner of an Israeli city was proudly displayed.
The flag of the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Malachi was raised in Rueil-Malmaison on Monday as the municipality inaugurated a new square celebrating its twin cities around the world.
The Place des Villes Jumelées (Twin Cities Square) was inaugurated as a symbolic site dedicated to Rueil-Malmaison's ties of friendship with its 11 twin cities, including Kiryat Malachi.
Other than Kiryat Malachi, Rueil-Malmaison's twin cities are Bad Soden am Taunus in Germany, Elmbridge in the United Kingdom, Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, Le Bouscat in France, Nymburk in the Czech Republic, Timișoara in Romania, Vescovato in Corsica, Zouk Mikael in Lebanon, and two additional partner cities in Europe and Asia.
The ceremony was led by Rueil-Malmaison Mayor Patrick Ollier and attended by Hauts-de-Seine Prefect Alexandre Brugère, Hauts-de-Seine MP Pierre Cazeneuve, Deputy Mayor for International Relations Jérôme Pardigon, Regional Councillor Denis Gabriel, Departmental Councillors Xabi Elizagoyen and Rita Demblon, as well as ambassadors, representatives and delegations from the various cities and countries.
The municipality said its twin-city relationships are based on friendship and cooperation and are maintained through cultural, sporting, educational and solidarity initiatives, as well as travel, meetings and exchanges between organizations.
Assaf Moran, Israel's Minister Plenipotentiary in France, described the unveiling of the Kiryat Malachi banner as a particularly moving moment.
"In these very difficult times, I felt immense pride and emotion seeing Kiryat Malachi and the Israeli flag represented here," Moran wrote.
He thanked Rueil-Malmaison and Mayor Ollier "for this magnificent gesture of friendship and solidarity."