Thousands March in France to Oppose Antisemitism

Thousands of Frenchmen, including statesmen and politicians from most political parties, took to the streets on Sunday (November 12) to support Israel and condemn antisemitism, which has been on the rise since Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war on Hamas.

The march was organized by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and her party but was also joined by others on both left and right sides of the French political spectrum, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Particularly absent in the march was the far-left party France Unbowed (LFI), which made a separate march against antisemitism and racism but also opposed the "extreme right."

LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon was quoted by France 24 saying that his group boycotted the Borne-led march, claiming it as a meeting of "friends" who called for "unconditional support for the massacre" of Palestinians in Gaza.

However, the LFI demonstration was met with counter-protesters who criticized the party for its perceived ambiguities on the issue. Some of them carried signs that read "Don't tarnish the memory!" and "Don't touch Vel' d'Hiv!" pertaining to the roundup of Jewish families by French Nazi collaborators in 1942.

France vs. Antisemitism

According to the Associated Press, France has the largest Jewish community in Europe. However, the country also has a sizable Muslim community and the Nazi collaboration of the Vichy government in World War II opened old scars.

French authorities have registered over 1,000 antisemitic acts across the country since the war began last month.

French President Emmanuel Macron was unable to attend the march in Paris, but in a statement leading up to the event, he expressed his support and called on Frenchmen to rise up against "the unbearable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism." He also vowed to prosecute and punish perpetrators of anti-Jewish acts.

"A France where our Jewish fellow citizens are afraid is not France," he wrote in the newspaper Le Parisien.

Over 3,000 police officers are being deployed along the route of the protest called by the leaders of the French Parliament amid an alarming increase of anti-Jewish acts in France since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.

Meanwhile, US billionaires and investors are being called upon to donate and support a media campaign called "Facts for Peace."

Spearheaded by US tycoon Barry Sternlicht, the initiative would enable Israel to get ahead of the narrative in response to international backlash at Israel's assault on Gaza City.