“Following London's Palace of Westminster and Brussels European Parliament, we are now in Paris to continue our response to the Parliaments of Europe that have recognized a Palestinian State.”
Paris, 23 October 2015
Under the title “The Republic Stands Up to Antisemitism and Terrorism,” the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, and BNVCA (the French Bureau for Vigilance Against Antisemitism) President, Sammy Ghozlan, hosted a 3 session conference at the Parliament's National Assembly.
- At the first session, Samuels as the Chair, on “Antisemitism and AntiZionism - the Convergence,” “spoke of the ID theft of Jewish heritage and narrative, highlighting the Palestinian campaign to delete Israel through the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the antisemitic ideology of Hamas that threatens Jews worldwide. Three lawyers then recounted legal measures taken in France, against BDS, campus delegitimization of Israel and belated suits against the perpetrators of the 1980 Copernic synagogue and 1982 Rue des Rosiers Jewish quarter terrorist attacks. The Israel radio European Bureau Chief stressed the media battle.
- The second session, on “Jihadism in France and the World,” featured a police chief, a Palestinian political refugee in France, an economist and the father of one of the French Muslim soldiers killed by Muhammad Mehra in Toulouse – the Jewish school murderer.
- The third on “The Arms of Democracy in the fight against Antisemitism” included a criminologist, the State Prosecutor, the Deputy-Mayor of the heavily Jewish Paris suburb of Sarcelles and the mother of the second French Muslim soldier shot by Mehra, the Toulouse killer.
The final session was addressed by the President of the French Jewish community (CRIF), the Chief Rabbi and the head of the Kashrut Board (Consistoire).
An award was made to the Wiesenthal Centre laureate, Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. The 300 seat Victor Hugo chamber was filled to capacity with the participants including French Parliamentarians, Government officials and media.
“Following London's Palace of Westminster and Brussels European Parliament, we are now in Paris to continue our response to the Parliaments of Europe that have recognized a Palestinian State,” concluded Samuels.