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Netanyahu in Paris to commemorate Vel d'Hiv deportation of Jews | Netanyahu in Paris to commemorate Vel d'Hiv deportation of Jews |
(35 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Paris to commemorate the victims of a mass arrest of Jews in Nazi-occupied France in 1942. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Paris to commemorate the victims of a mass arrest of Jews in Nazi-occupied France in 1942. |
More than 13,000 Jews were rounded up and detained at a cycling stadium, the Velodrome d'Hiver, before being deported to Nazi death camps. | More than 13,000 Jews were rounded up and detained at a cycling stadium, the Velodrome d'Hiver, before being deported to Nazi death camps. |
Mr Netanyahu also held direct talks for the first time with French President Emmanuel Macron. | Mr Netanyahu also held direct talks for the first time with French President Emmanuel Macron. |
He is the first Israeli prime minister to attend the Vel d'Hiv commemorations. | He is the first Israeli prime minister to attend the Vel d'Hiv commemorations. |
"I'm here to mourn the victims," Mr Netanyahu told an audience in Paris, which included Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors. | "I'm here to mourn the victims," Mr Netanyahu told an audience in Paris, which included Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors. |
"Seventy-five years ago, a heavy darkness descended on this city... It seems the values of the French revolution - equality, fraternity, liberty - was crushed brutally under the boot of anti-Semitism." | "Seventy-five years ago, a heavy darkness descended on this city... It seems the values of the French revolution - equality, fraternity, liberty - was crushed brutally under the boot of anti-Semitism." |
He hailed the "great, great human beings" who had risked their lives to save Jews in France during Nazi occupation, and warned of a rise in "extremist forces" in modern society. | |
What was the Vel d'Hiv round-up? | |
More than 13,000 Jews were arrested by French police on 16 and 17 July 1942. About 4,000 were children. | |
The families were taken to the Velodrome D'Hiver, a cycling stadium near the Eiffel Tower, or an internment camp set up just outside the capital at Drancy. | The families were taken to the Velodrome D'Hiver, a cycling stadium near the Eiffel Tower, or an internment camp set up just outside the capital at Drancy. |
They were then deported by train, mostly to Auschwitz concentration camp. Fewer than 100 people survived. | They were then deported by train, mostly to Auschwitz concentration camp. Fewer than 100 people survived. |
What was interesting about Mr Macron's comments on the tragedy? | |
The episode remains controversial in France. Marine Le Pen, Mr Macron's far-right opponent in this year's election, drew strong criticism on 9 April when she suggested France was not responsible for the tragedy. | The episode remains controversial in France. Marine Le Pen, Mr Macron's far-right opponent in this year's election, drew strong criticism on 9 April when she suggested France was not responsible for the tragedy. |
But speaking at the ceremony on Sunday, President Macron reaffirmed that "it was France that organised" the mass arrest, deportations and therefore "the death of 13,152 people of Jewish faith". | |
"Not a single German" took part, he said. | |
What else did the leaders discuss in their talks? | |
After the ceremony, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Macron met for direct discussions on subjects including security and the fight against extremism. | |
Mr Netanyahu's last official visit to France was to attend the unity march following the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police officers, and a kosher supermarket in January 2015. | Mr Netanyahu's last official visit to France was to attend the unity march following the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police officers, and a kosher supermarket in January 2015. |
On Sunday Mr Netanyahu said he would like to see greater cooperation between the two countries and "expressed his concerns about the Iranian regime". | |
At a joint news conference, Mr Macron assured his visitor of his "vigilance" regarding the nuclear accord reached by Western powers with Iran in 2015. | |
Calling for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, he reiterated France's support for a two-state solution and opposition to Israel's building of settlements in occupied territory. | |
President Macron met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Paris earlier this month. | |
What's happening in the Israel-Palestinian conflict? | |
The meeting with Mr Netanyahu comes amid concerns of another increase in violence. | |
Two Israeli policemen were killed and a third wounded by three Israeli Arabs in a gun attack close to the compound in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif on Friday. The attackers were later killed by security forces. | Two Israeli policemen were killed and a third wounded by three Israeli Arabs in a gun attack close to the compound in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif on Friday. The attackers were later killed by security forces. |
The holy site was closed after shooting but it reopened on Sunday. | The holy site was closed after shooting but it reopened on Sunday. |
Israel and the Palestinians have not held peace talks for three years. |