A solidarity march with Israel took place on Monday evening, October 9th in Paris, organized by the CRIF (Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions), leading to the Eiffel Tower, which was illuminated in the colors of Israel at 8 pm. Around 16,000 people participated in the procession, according to the police prefecture, although some lamented the absence of more non-Jewish individuals.
Chanting “Israel will prevail,” the crowd exuded a summery atmosphere. Many young people were present, including a law student who explained, “We have family there, and we want them to know they are supported, even if we are in France. I hope there are other people, Jewish individuals who feel concerned and come to demonstrate their support.”
Amid tight security, Hassen Chalghoumi, the Imam of Drancy, delivered a message of peace. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and finding solutions, stating, “We can criticize Israeli policy, but we do not have the right to kill. The religion I follow is one of peace…read the Quran.”
A woman in the crowd expressed her condemnation of all acts of terrorism, describing the attack as a significant act of terror. She received praise and admiration from fellow demonstrators for her courage and shared convictions. When asked about the importance of having individuals who are not of Jewish faith present, she replied, “Yes, I thank her because they are not many.”
Various political figures, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, the president of The Republicans Éric Ciotti, and government spokesperson Olivier Véran attended the march. The left, however, was conspicuously absent, with the exception of ecologist Yannick Jadot. Many people in the crowd expressed their regret that the entire country was not on the streets, not to defend Israel but to stand against terrorism.
Yonathan Arfi, President of CRIF, voiced concern about the need for increased security measures, particularly in front of Jewish schools and synagogues. He highlighted the reality that, in today’s France, police presence is necessary for Jewish individuals to lead their lives.
In France, there has been a rise in anti-Semitic incidents since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that ten individuals had been arrested and that the police would monitor the 400 locations where the Jewish community gathers, such as synagogues and schools. To gauge the level of concern, a report was conducted on Rue des Rosiers, a street renowned for its Jewish restaurants.
The Jewish community on Rue des Rosiers shared their feelings of apprehension, with around twenty anti-Semitic incidents recorded in France since the attack. The Interior Minister’s assurance of heightened security brought some reassurance, as the police will increase surveillance in Jewish gathering places in the coming days.
