Posted on 07/18/2004 6:18:18 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker
PARIS (Reuters) - France sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday after he urged French Jews to emigrate immediately to Israel to escape what he called "the wildest anti-Semitism."
Branding Sharon's language "unacceptable," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said Paris had demanded an explanation.
France, home to western Europe's biggest Jewish and Muslim communities, has been troubled by attacks on Jewish people and property in recent years, some of it blamed on youths of North African origin angered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sharon, who regularly calls on all the world's Jews to migrate to Israel, acknowledged in a speech to Jewish leaders in Jerusalem that the French government was making efforts to stem anti-Semitism. But he added that the threat was so grave that French Jews should head for Israel without delay.
"If I have to advise our brothers in France, I'll tell them one thing -- move to Israel, as early as possible. I say that to Jews all around the world, but there (in France) I think it's a must and they have to move immediately," Sharon said.
The French spokesman said: "We have been informed of comments made today by Sharon calling on the Jews of France to emigrate to Israel.
"We immediately made contact with the Israeli authorities to ask for an explanation of these unacceptable comments."
Some 600,000 Jews and five million Muslims form part of France's population of 60 million.
The French Interior Ministry registered 67 attacks on Jews or their property and 160 threats against Jews in the first quarter of this year compared with 42 attacks and 191 threats in the last three months of 2003.
(Additional reporting by Megan Goldin in Jerusalem)
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07/18/2004 19:44
Outraged at Israel, France has decided to surrender.
No doubt the Palestinians would find the French much more compliant to their wishes.
Yes! You've pegged the French. But getting back to reality, the showdown has to happen in the Holy Land. And the showdown is coming.
I can understand why the French don't want the jews to leave. If they did, the Muslims would then seek the next target upon which to vent their hatred.
GMTA...
Has anyone seen a detailed breakdown of all the anti-semititic attacks last year?
eh?
Great Minds Think Alike
LOL!
"some of it blamed on youths of North African origin angered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "
seems to have become part of the mass media's style book when it comes time to describe the imported Muslim savagery that leftist European politicians have inflicted on their societies.
"some of it", "blamed on", "youths" all serve to lessen the reality of the Mohammedan rampages - and of course, the kicker, "angered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" ... means " it's the Jews' fault anyhow".
You snooty little fops in the Quai d'Orsay want an explanation?
France lets in millions of hostile Muslims and lets them promote their anti-Semitic garbage all over the place. Then when they attack Jews, you blame the Jews instead of the culprits. You back every Jew-hating Arab dictatorship and rake in profits from people plotting the destruction of Israel. And you do all this while claiming the moral high ground.
There's your explanation, fools!
Or, second, to just pretend that there's no problem, and to act shocked when Sharon suggests that there is.
It's amazing to me how France just don't "get it". They, much like the (french-looking, vietnam veteram alleged common man) John Kerry are on the wrong side of every single issue which arises.
France should invite all liberals to come there..so they can all be in misery together.
Why are they mad? Because the United States is run from Israel, so they need hostages?
Branding Sharon's language "unacceptable," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said Paris had demanded an explanation.Explanation: France is now a safe haven for millions of Islamofacists and Jews are no longer safe there.
I suspect many of the French would like very much for the Jews to leave. They just don't want to be seen as wanting them to leave.
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