'Come to Israel' call divides French Jews

By CATHERINE FIELD in Paris

After the United States, France has one of the largest Jewish communities outside Israel, as well as one of the most ancient. It is believed to number 600,000 - the precise number is unknown, partly because the French census does not categorise religious or ethnic affiliation.

French Jews are generally well integrated. Indeed, one of the biggest worries among Jewish leaders is that so many marry out of their faith, and that the religion is observed on just a few of the most important holidays.

Many in this community rise to success in finance, show business and politics, such as Economy Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn, rock star Jean-Jacques Goldman and writer and philosopher Simone Veil.

They are examples of the long humanist tradition of European Judaism, which puts the accent on tolerance, freedom of speech, sympathy for the oppressed and the secular state.

It is this group of centrists who are under pressure from Zionist zealots. In their defence of Israel, the radicals are eager to play on French shame at past acts of anti-Semitism and portray France, its media and people as closet anti-Semites.

So the reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's appeal for French Jews to emigrate has polarised the Jewish community more than it has been in decades.

Some have tried to play down Sharon's remarks while at the same time argue that Jews are somehow at threat.

"I hope that Sharon does not turn out to be a prophet. We are not yet in a dramatic situation," said Richard Wertenschalg, Grand Rabbi of Lyon. He blamed the anti-Semitism on France's restless population of young North African Arabs.

In fact, a report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia identified "young, disaffected white Europeans" as the key culprits, followed by North African or Asian Muslims.

"The Jewish community is in a genuine state of anxiety for the future of its children. It knows that French politicians are doing everything to fight against this anti-Semitism," said Richard Presquier, a member of the executive bureau of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France.

"Certain Jews in France are wondering whether they should go [to Israel]. That's quite true. But to leave implies that the situation is considered to be beyond control. We are not at that stage," he said.

Tougher words were dealt out by Yonathan Arfi, president of the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF), who said there was "a mismatch in the views between the Jews of France and the Jews of Israel on the question of anti-Semitism."


The media suspects Sharon is trying to boost emigration from one of the largest potential sources, given the fears that, in 10 to 15 years, Arabs will outnumber Israel's Jewish population.

They also suspect an attempt to stigmatise and sideline France, one of the most publicly pro-Palestinian European states. "[Sharon's] assault is aimed at undermining the credibility of President Jacques Chirac, one of the European Union's most eloquent advocates for a Palestinian state," said the conservative daily Le Figaro.