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Macron condemns antisemitic abuse during gilets jaunes Paris protest Macron condemns antisemitic abuse during gilets jaunes Paris protest
(about 2 hours later)
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned antisemitic abuse of a leading intellectual by gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protestors and said it would not be tolerated. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned antisemitic abuse of a leading intellectual by gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protesters and said it would not be tolerated.
Police intervened to protect philosopher and writer Alain Finkielkraut after he was targeted by a group of protestors on the fringe of a demonstration in central Paris on Saturday, according to videos posted on social networks. Police intervened to protect philosopher and writer Alain Finkielkraut after he was targeted by a group of protesters on the fringe of a demonstration in central Paris on Saturday, according to videos posted on social networks.
“The antisemitic insults he has been subjected to are the absolute negation of what we are and what makes us a great nation. We will not tolerate it,” Macron tweeted.“The antisemitic insults he has been subjected to are the absolute negation of what we are and what makes us a great nation. We will not tolerate it,” Macron tweeted.
“The son of Polish immigrants who became a French academician, Alain Finkielkraut is not only a prominent man of letters but the symbol of what the Republic allows everyone,” the president added in another tweet.“The son of Polish immigrants who became a French academician, Alain Finkielkraut is not only a prominent man of letters but the symbol of what the Republic allows everyone,” the president added in another tweet.
Antisemitism rising sharply across Europe, latest figures showAntisemitism rising sharply across Europe, latest figures show
Several protestors shouted “dirty Zionist”, “we are the people” and “France is ours”, according to a video broadcast by Yahoo! News. Several protesters shouted “dirty Zionist”, “we are the people” and “France is ours”, according to a video broadcast by Yahoo! News.
“I felt absolute hatred and, unfortunately, this is not the first time,” Finkielkraut, 69, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. “I would have been afraid if there had not been the police, fortunately they were there.” He added that not all the demonstrators were hostile towards him and one even suggested he put on a vest and join the demonstration while another hailed his work.“I felt absolute hatred and, unfortunately, this is not the first time,” Finkielkraut, 69, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. “I would have been afraid if there had not been the police, fortunately they were there.” He added that not all the demonstrators were hostile towards him and one even suggested he put on a vest and join the demonstration while another hailed his work.
Finkielkraut has expressed his solidarity and sympathy with the gilets jaunes protestors from the outset but in an interview published on Saturday in Le Figaro, he criticised the leaders of the movement, saying that “arrogance has changed sides”. Finkielkraut has expressed his solidarity and sympathy with the gilets jaunes protesters from the outset but in an interview published on Saturday in Le Figaro, he criticised the leaders of the movement, saying that “arrogance has changed sides”.
Saturday’s incident triggered a wave of condemnation and messages of support for the philosopher.Saturday’s incident triggered a wave of condemnation and messages of support for the philosopher.
The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said it was “simply intolerable”, while the leader of the Republicans opposition party, Laurent Wauquiez, denounced the “abject idiots”.The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said it was “simply intolerable”, while the leader of the Republicans opposition party, Laurent Wauquiez, denounced the “abject idiots”.
Ian Brossat, the chief French Communist party candidate for the European parliament, said, “we can hate Finkielkraut’s ideas”, but “nothing can justify attacking him as a Jew”. Ian Brossat, the chief French Communist party candidate for the European parliament, said: “We can hate Finkielkraut’s ideas”, but “nothing can justify attacking him as a Jew”.
Demonstrating for the 14th consecutive weekend, just over 41,000 gilets jaunes protesters turned out across the country on Saturday. The protests began three months ago over fuel taxes, but quickly grew into a broader anti-government rebellion fuelled by hatred of Macron, with some using antisemitic tropes to refer to his former job as an investment banker.Demonstrating for the 14th consecutive weekend, just over 41,000 gilets jaunes protesters turned out across the country on Saturday. The protests began three months ago over fuel taxes, but quickly grew into a broader anti-government rebellion fuelled by hatred of Macron, with some using antisemitic tropes to refer to his former job as an investment banker.
Finkielkraut, who is seen as having pro-establishment beliefs, has since January 2016 been a member of the French Academy, the prestigious institution in charge of defining the French language.Finkielkraut, who is seen as having pro-establishment beliefs, has since January 2016 been a member of the French Academy, the prestigious institution in charge of defining the French language.
A recent spate of antisemitic vandalism and graffiti in and around Paris has stoked fresh concerns about an increase in hate crime against Jews.A recent spate of antisemitic vandalism and graffiti in and around Paris has stoked fresh concerns about an increase in hate crime against Jews.
Fourteen political parties on Thursday launched a call for action against antisemitism after the interior ministry reported a 74% increase in anti-Jewish acts last year.Fourteen political parties on Thursday launched a call for action against antisemitism after the interior ministry reported a 74% increase in anti-Jewish acts last year.
FranceFrance
ParisParis
AntisemitismAntisemitism
Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Macron
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