http://www.nationalpost.com/rss/story.html?id=1182011
Sarkozy: 'zero tolerance' for anti-Semitic attacks Agence France-Presse and Reuters Published: Thursday, January 15, 2009 <http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/37b7/0/0/%2a/f;44306;0-0;0;22194535 ;21-88/31;0/0/0;;~aopt=2/2/209b/0;~sscs=%3f> Click here to find out more! PARIS -- Vandals hurled Molotov cocktails at a synagogue in a Paris suburb on Thursday in the latest outbreak of anti-Semitic violence in France since the start of Israel's Gaza offensive. The main entrance door to the synagogue at Villeneuve-St-Georges, southeast of Paris, was damaged by fire and a police source said it remained unclear whether one or several of the bombs were thrown. Home to Europe's biggest Muslim and Jewish populations, France has recorded more than 55 anti-Semitic incidents since Israel launched its Gaza offensive last month, drawing appeals for calm from politicians and religious leaders. Three other synagogues have been firebombed in the past two weeks and vandals have sprayed anti-Israeli graffiti on at least two other Jewish places of worship. The attacks come despite the government's pledge there will be zero tolerance for anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim acts. "Those who want to import violence between different communities into France will find the state on their tracks," Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, said on Wednesday at a New Year's address to police in Orleans, central France. His comments reflect the government's concern to prevent anger over the conflict in Gaza spilling over into violence in France. "The level of tolerance will be zero tolerance," Mr. Sarkozy said. "We will not let the consequences of this conflict be imported into France." Jewish organizations say there have been dozens of attacks against synagogues and other sites since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza on Dec. 27. Violence against Muslims has also been reported. This week, police opened an investigation into the case of three young people of North African origin who said they were attacked by Israel supporters outside a school in the 16th district of Paris. The three said they were assaulted by activists of the radical Jewish Defence League who were distributing tracts. The country's main Jewish association CRIF has condemned the attack and urged authorities to catch the perpetrators as quickly as possible. In recent years, flare-ups between Israel and the Palestinians have often been followed by acts of violence against Jewish people or buildings in France. There have been similar outbreaks in Britain, where on Thursday MPs said there had been a "wave" of incidents targeting British Jews. There was an attempt to burn down a synagogue in Brondesbury, northwest London, while others have been defaced. Buildings in the northern city of Manchester have had anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled on them and eggs were thrown at a Jewish school. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Semitism called for all communities in Britain to be "free to live, practise and worship without fear or intimidation" and said physical attacks have been "thankfully few." Meanwhile, religious leaders in Britain have spoken out against the rise in anti-Semitism triggered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. More than 20 prominent Muslims have signed a joint letter, which is being sent to every mosque in the country, denouncing attacks on Jews and synagogues. "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -- George Washington [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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