Israeli Blogger Attacked Amid Riots in Paris, Phone Wiped

An Israeli blogger, Irit Rahamim, was assaulted and had her phone's video recordings erased by rioters in Paris while attending a Celine Dion concert. Rahamim stated that the attackers feared their actions would be exposed to the police. Despite the shock and distress, she resisted the assault and expressed feeling safe only in her home country. The incident occurred amidst widespread unrest across France, with protests escalating into violence in several cities. In Limoges, a 19th-century town hall was set ablaze, causing its roof to partially collapse. Looters also targeted shops and burned cars in other locations. Authorities reported over 1,200 arrests and approximately 150 police officers injured. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned the violence, attributing it to radical left-wing activists and criminals, while the government has so far refrained from declaring a state of emergency. The protests, which began over educational issues, have broadened to include concerns about the rising cost of living and social inequality, with demonstrators criticizing the government's response. The CGT union estimated that around 1,750 demonstrations took place nationwide, involving approximately 500,000 people, though most remained peaceful, with isolated incidents of clashes and looting.