The Jewish community in France is grappling with a growing sense of fear and uncertainty as anti-Semitic incidents continue to rise across the country.
Eric Gozlan, director of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue, has expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that the level of fear among French Jews is unprecedented.
"This is the first time I've seen Jews living in France so afraid," Gozlan told Report's French bureau. "The elderly are afraid to go out on the street in national clothing. Students have to remove their kippah, a Jewish head covering, when leaving school. Jewish taxi drivers hide their surnames from passengers while on duty. No Jew dares to take out and read a newspaper or magazine published in Hebrew on the metro or in any other public place. They are afraid of being subjected to aggressive behavior and insults."
The fear is not unfounded, as thousands of Jewish families have already applied to leave France within the past month alone. Parents are increasingly worried about their children's future in a country where they are targeted for their Jewish identity.
Gozlan noted with regret that the country's president has avoided commenting on the current situation, despite the gravity of the issue. "In such a serious situation, the president should address the people. He should call on the population to end anti-Semitism. At a time when people are expecting a reaction from the head of state on this issue, there is silence from the French president."
Experts have pointed out that political groups are largely responsible for inciting the population against Jews. While anti-Semitism has long been associated with far-right ideologies, a new form of political anti-Semitism has emerged in France.
"Unfortunately, protest actions in France are carried out with the support of political groups. They have even involved LGBT representatives in recent actions held in support of HAMAS. However, if we were to send them to Palestine, their protests would not last even a second," Gozlan said.