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US envoy criticises France's lack of action over antisemitism (www.rfi.fr)
submitted 3 days ago by xiao@sh.itjust.works to c/globalnews@lemmy.zip
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Paris (AFP) – The US ambassador to Paris has upped the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron over antisemitism in France with a letter calling the government's action on anti-Jewish hatred insufficient, days after similar criticism from Israel.

US envoy Charles Kushner's letter to Macron was dated August 25, which he noted was "the 81st anniversary of the Allied Liberation of Paris, which ended the deportation of Jews from French soil" under Nazi German occupation.

In the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by AFP, he wrote: "I write out of deep concern over the dramatic rise of antisemitism in France and the lack of sufficient action by your government to confront it...

"In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized," he added.

While "antisemitism has long scarred French life", the ambassador argued that hatred of Jews "has exploded since Hamas's barbaric assault on October 7, 2023," which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

His remarks tally with those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Tuesday accused Macron of fomenting antisemitism, saying it had "surged" in France following the French president's announcement last month that he will recognise Palestinian statehood.

Macron's Elysee office was quick to hit back at Netanyahu, calling the Israeli leader's allegation "abject" and "erroneous".

But like Netanyahu, Kushner denounced Macron's criticisms of Israel over the war in Gaza and his planned recognition of a State of Palestine. Such moves, he said, "embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France".

"In today's world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism -- plain and simple," the ambassador added.

"Surveys show most French citizens believe another Holocaust could happen in Europe. Nearly half of French youth report never having heard of the Holocaust at all.

"What are children being taught in French schools if such ignorance persists?," the letter read.

France is home to Western Europe's largest Jewish population at around half a million people, as well as a significant Muslim community sensitive to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Both communities have reported a spike in hate crimes since Israel's retaliatory offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the besieged coastal strip.

Macron's announcement that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September drew a swift rebuke from Israel at the time.

With the move, France is set to join a list of nations that has grown since the start of the Gaza war nearly two years ago.

France is among at least 145 of the 193 UN members that now recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, according to an AFP tally.

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[-] FurryMemesAccount 20 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Anti-Zionism isn't antisemitism, this guy is bonkers.

Also, as a french person, I have no idea how half the population doesn't know about the Holocaust, it was the subject of 10+ hours of middle school time to the public middle school I went to, with movie screenings, the works.

Did half of the population skip middle school? Or forget the most traumatic lesson? (the movie showed the horrible human pits)

[-] hopesdead@startrek.website 7 points 3 days ago

Disliking the actions of the Israeli government is not the same as hating Jewish people. At some point people just started to agree with anything that wasn’t in favor of the Israeli state as being antisemitism. It is alarming how we’ve turned the actual hatred of Jewish people into an issue that isn’t about people actually hating them for their faith practices.

The oppressed have become the oppressors. That is not good.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

The Jewish population have become a pawn in the game. No matter what happens they are going to get screwed.

[-] hopesdead@startrek.website 2 points 3 days ago

I am Filipino. A cousin of min, who’s Jewish on his father’s side, decided to have a bat Mitzvah last year. Proud of the kid but I wonder if he has been exposed to actual hate speech behavior that was misdirected at the Jewish people because of the war.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

Not only that but also physical violence.

It isn't just Jewish people either. Muslims are also at risk from far right crazies.

[-] hopesdead@startrek.website 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I feel like as a 90s kid, someone old enough to remember and understand 9/11, anti-Muslim sentiment has been around a long time. That doesn’t surprise me regarding this.

EDIT: As a Filipino, I grew up hearing a particular flavor of anti-Muslim prejudice. A great grandmother would tell people that [insert censored comment], an outrageously offensive thing that was made up. A aunt would just generalize that certain parts of Philippines were not safe to travel due to Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist terror group.

censored commentMuslims eat their babies

[-] FurryMemesAccount 1 points 3 days ago

What any sane person should have gotten out of WW2 is that people shoudn't be stigmatized or worse based on religion, sexual orientation, ethnic roots, opinions and more.

The fact that the stigmatized religion happens to be Jewish or Orthodox matters not, it's the process that should instill fear in people: the arbitrarity of the ruler, the denial of science, othering of some convenient minority, all that to distract the public's attention from real problems. (Inflation and unfair treaties for germany, state racism in the case of israel, deportations and disregard for the rule of law in the US, etc)

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

Social media and isolation has stripped people of empathy

[-] Beryl@jlai.lu 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

There's no way half of french youth doesn't know about the Holocaust since it's a not insignificant part of highschool history curriculum.

But then Charles Kushner is part of the Trump administration. It's their modus operandi to just make shit up as needed to support their world views.

That guy is also the father of Jared, husband of Ivanka Trump, so a member of the Trump crime family. A title that's certainly not wasted on him since Charles is a convicted felon and spent 14 months in federal prison. Or as Donald calls it : ambassador material.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It is crazy how they magically care about the Jewish population. Antisemitism has been around for a very long time.

Equality and justice only when it suits politicians

[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 5 points 3 days ago

Macron should reply [citation needed]

[-] Bonus@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

*Jared Kushner's disgraced dad

Criminal conviction and pardon

On June 30, 2004, Kushner was fined $508,900 by the Federal Election Commission for contributing to Democratic political campaigns in the names of his partnerships when he lacked authorization to do so. In 2005, following an investigation by United States attorney for the District of New Jersey Chris Christie negotiated a plea agreement with him, under which Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. The witness tampering charge arose from Kushner's retaliation against William Schulder, his sister Esther's husband, who was cooperating with federal investigators against Kushner. Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, arranging to record a sexual encounter between the two and send the tape to his sister. He was sentenced to two years in prison and served 14 months at Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery, in Alabama before being sent to a halfway house in Newark, New Jersey, to complete his sentence. He was released from prison on August 25, 2006.

As a convicted felon, Charles Kushner was also disbarred and prohibited from practicing law in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Republican Chris Christie, who chaired Trump’s first transition team, said Kushner committed "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he prosecuted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner?wprov=sfla1

[-] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 days ago

US envoy chokes on his own dick. Colleagues are disturbed at his proficiency and lack of reticence to self-fellate in public. Restaining orders are recommended.

[-] xiao@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago

i thought it was a joke

[-] ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

If you don't disregard any narrative or opinion pushed by the American establishment, you haven't been paying attention for at least the last 50 years. 🤷

this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025
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