A young woman and her baby were attacked on a train in a Paris suburb on Saturday by a group of young North African men who mistook her for a Jewess. The six attackers slashed the 23-year-old woman's shirt with knives, holding her down as they drew swastikas on her body. They further knocked the woman's baby carriage over, with her one-year-old baby inside, and stole her bag with her identity papers and money. The woman was otherwise unhurt.
Though she protested that she was not Jewish, one of the attackers yelled at her, "Only Jews live in the 16th district" - referring to an affluent Paris neighborhood.
On Friday, the day before the attack, French President Chirac traveled to Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, whose residents rescued thousands of Jews during World War II, and warned against the spread of anti-Semitic violence. "These acts reflect the darkest side of human nature. They are unworthy of France. I will do everything to stop them," Chirac said.
France experienced 932 anti-Semitic incidents in 2002, six times more than in 1999. The numbers declined last year, but appear to be rising once again. Over 20 people were physically attacked last year. Unofficial estimates are that 90% of the attacks are carried out by young Arabs.
French officials and Jewish leaders agree that the "new anti-Semitism" differs from the traditional type, in that the latter is rooted in Christianity's historic enmity toward Jews, while the current brand of anti-Semitism flourishes among Arab groups who oppose Jews as representing the State of Israel they so hate.
Absorption Ministry officials are working to accommodate the rising numbers of French Jews choosing to escape the rising anti-Semitism in that country and come home to Israel. According to Deputy Director Hanoch Zamir, efforts are underway to direct the new immigrants to a number of locations where they are being encouraged to settle in groups. Zamir explained that the goal is to facilitate the absorption process by having them live in proximity to friends or others who share similar backgrounds. Among the areas under consideration are Beit Shemesh, Ashkelon, Netanya and the Shomron city of Ariel.
Jean-Jacques Wahl, director of a Jewish educational foundation in France, said that many French Jews, especially younger ones, are preparing carefully for a future outside France. "Among young people, fewer are choosing professions like the law," he told The Chicago Tribune. "Instead, they are studying business or computers, because these skills are more transportable. For me, that's the most important change."
In the southern Shomron community of Ofrah, 15 kilometers north of Jerusalem, a welcoming ceremony will be held this Thursday for 50 families from France who have made aliyah [immigration to Israel] and now live in Ofrah.
Though she protested that she was not Jewish, one of the attackers yelled at her, "Only Jews live in the 16th district" - referring to an affluent Paris neighborhood.
On Friday, the day before the attack, French President Chirac traveled to Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, whose residents rescued thousands of Jews during World War II, and warned against the spread of anti-Semitic violence. "These acts reflect the darkest side of human nature. They are unworthy of France. I will do everything to stop them," Chirac said.
France experienced 932 anti-Semitic incidents in 2002, six times more than in 1999. The numbers declined last year, but appear to be rising once again. Over 20 people were physically attacked last year. Unofficial estimates are that 90% of the attacks are carried out by young Arabs.
French officials and Jewish leaders agree that the "new anti-Semitism" differs from the traditional type, in that the latter is rooted in Christianity's historic enmity toward Jews, while the current brand of anti-Semitism flourishes among Arab groups who oppose Jews as representing the State of Israel they so hate.
Absorption Ministry officials are working to accommodate the rising numbers of French Jews choosing to escape the rising anti-Semitism in that country and come home to Israel. According to Deputy Director Hanoch Zamir, efforts are underway to direct the new immigrants to a number of locations where they are being encouraged to settle in groups. Zamir explained that the goal is to facilitate the absorption process by having them live in proximity to friends or others who share similar backgrounds. Among the areas under consideration are Beit Shemesh, Ashkelon, Netanya and the Shomron city of Ariel.
Jean-Jacques Wahl, director of a Jewish educational foundation in France, said that many French Jews, especially younger ones, are preparing carefully for a future outside France. "Among young people, fewer are choosing professions like the law," he told The Chicago Tribune. "Instead, they are studying business or computers, because these skills are more transportable. For me, that's the most important change."
In the southern Shomron community of Ofrah, 15 kilometers north of Jerusalem, a welcoming ceremony will be held this Thursday for 50 families from France who have made aliyah [immigration to Israel] and now live in Ofrah.