[BlackVeil]

To judge from the list of comments on this thread, these people aren't "au fait" with French politics. Attacks on synagogues are the speciality of the radical right wing of French politics - sometimes linked to right wing anarchist groups. They are also very VERY anti-Arab and anti-Islamic. The mosques of Marseilles have been vandalised again and again, and attempts to burn them down have only not succeeded because there are worshippers there at night. The French Jewish community are aware of all this, and have often deplored the violence.

[Prodigal Son]

Attacks on synagogues are the speciality of the radical right wing of French politics - sometimes linked to right wing anarchist groups.

That's a fair point. It doesn't say in the article who did it.

But, I would point out these incidents took place on the heels of the Israeli military "crackdown" (for want of a better word) on Arafat. Also, as has been pointed out, Marseilles has a very large Muslim population. It seems to me that perhaps the BBC has purposefully omitted the fact that at least an eye should be cast towards the Muslim community in France. Instead they are very faithful to the Kristalnacht metaphor- leading one to think along Right Wing Fanatic lines. Lionel Jospin certainly wasted no time condemning the acts and I'm sure he could only benefit by making certain the public thinks the Right Wing is responsible. Hey, it might turn out that they were.

But given the Islamic rap sheet of late- they are "the usual suspects" and someone will need to show me that they weren't behind it.