Jonathan Arfi, president of CRIF, the umbrella organization of Jewish groups in France, spoke to Ynet while en route to the city of La Grande-Motte, where an antisemitic attack took place earlier Saturday.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are also expected to visit the site later in the evening.
"I am filled with anger," Arfi stated. "This is yet another antisemitic incident in France since October 7, but this time there’s an escalation—the intent this morning was to kill Jews by setting fire to a synagogue and nearby cars at a time when worshippers were expected to arrive. This was not just an act of intimidation, but a clear attempt to harm the worshippers."
When asked if the attack was related to the political climate in France, Arfi responded, "This is the result of the toxic atmosphere since October 7, where hatred of Israel has been allowed to spread, fueling antisemitism in France. Today, anti-Israel sentiment is a direct form of antisemitism. As far as we know, the terrorist who carried out the attack was wrapped in a Palestinian flag—another direct proof of the link to anti-Israel hatred. Support for Palestine in France is being used as an excuse for antisemitism."
Commenting on the recent condemnation of the attack by French politicians Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Mathilde Panot from the France Unbowed party, who previously criticized Israel throughout the French election campaign, Arfi said, "Today’s attack proves that Mélenchon’s past statement claiming 'only remnants of antisemitism remain in France' is false. Unfortunately, antisemitism is very much alive. The harmful atmosphere and inflammatory rhetoric spread by France Unbowed, which turned Gaza into a central, exaggerated and false issue during their election campaign, have contributed not only to the radicalization of opinions and rhetoric but also to actions."
When asked about the security of prayer sites and Jewish-owned businesses in France, which have been under protection for some time, Arfi acknowledged the ongoing threat. "We, as Jews in France, are acutely aware that we are a prime target for terrorists and antisemites. This raises serious questions about French society’s ability to meet this challenge. For Jews in France, this is an existential struggle."
Regarding the possibility of a new wave of immigration to Israel, Arfi said, "That’s a personal decision for each individual. My responsibility is to continue fighting against antisemitism so that no one feels they need to flee for that reason. This is a moment of crisis where everyone must find their own solution. There’s no single answer to this question."
When asked what more can be done, given CRIF's already active efforts to combat antisemitism, Arfi emphasized, "Every French citizen must understand that this is their problem too. The only thing we can do is convince people that antisemitism threatens all of France. French Jews will continue to fight and refuse to accept the current situation. Many will choose to stay and fight here in France."