“We are concerned at possible mimetic effect on others bent on antisemitic atrocity... and also the denial of justice if the would-be perpetrator is claimed to be insane or under the influence of narcotics.”

Paris, 4 November 2019

In a letter to Nice Mayor, MP Christian Estrosi, Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, commended his condemnation of the foiled incident at the Nice Jewish School “Or Torah,” forestalled by the school guard and arrested in flight by the rapid arrival of the Nice police.

Samuels recalled Estrosi’s role in the 2005 renaming of a High School in Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, near Grasse, to 'Collège Simon Wiesenthal'.

The Centre, however, expressed “concern at two potential dangers:

- Despite the fact that, this time, the would-be perpetrator was reportedly unarmed, the intent carries a possible mimetic effect through social media on others bent on antisemitic atrocity.

- The denial of justice if, yet again, the accused is claimed irresponsible because insane or under the influence of narcotics.”

“Mr. Mayor, in your long-term roles as President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, as Member of the French National Assembly and an active friend of Israel, our Centre would be delighted to work with you in the battle against antisemitism in France,” concluded Samuels.