FRANCE STRUGGLES TO DEFINE ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-ZIONISM

French intellectuals are being accused of antisemitism when they criticize Israel, but they are pushing back, accusing their detractors of « intellectual terrorism. »

France has had a complicated history with its Jewish community, as it has with Israel.

Some French politicians, including French President Emmanuel Macron, say there is no difference between anti-zionism and anti-semitism. Since the Paris attacks, more politicians have stepped forward and praised Israel for how it defends itself against terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, historians and specialists have been called anti-Semitic as soon as they publicly stand against Israeli policy.

The country of human rights’ must balance the interests of its Jewish and Muslim communities.

Facts :

• Pascal Boniface, founder and director of the progressive think tank Institute for International and Strategic Research, published a book in January as a response to those accusing him of antisemitism.
• According to Boniface, « a kind of intellectual terrorism is emerging. Some want to scare people…. A debate is needed about the reasons of this blackmail, a dangerous one since it provokes a ‘casual’ antisemitism. »
• In February, another French intellectual, Dominique Vidal, will release a book explaining the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The book will be addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Since the terrorist attacks in Toulouse of a Jewish school (2012) and in Paris, against the Hyper Casher supermarket (2015), criticism against Israel has become more and more difficult to express.

 

This article has been published by NewsMavens