French Riots Expose Double Standards, Threaten Jews, Analyst Warns

Amidst the ongoing unrest in France, author Ben Caspit criticizes the country's leadership for a domestic crisis and hypocrisy on human rights. Caspit, writing for Maariv, argues that France, which often lectures other nations on morality and champions liberty, equality, and fraternity, reveals a stark contrast between its international image and internal reality when riots erupt, stores are looted, and Jews fear for their safety. He contends that a state aspiring to teach conflict resolution struggles to protect its own citizens' property, viewing it as a failure of governance and President Emmanuel Macron's administration.

While acknowledging that protests over issues like school overcrowding or the cost of living may stem from genuine grievances, Caspit asserts that their escalation into arson and looting betrays the protesters themselves. He dismisses justifications for property destruction or attacks on police based on social justice slogans, stating that such acts are mere criminal offenses. Caspit emphasizes that a government failing to balance the right to protest with the protection of citizens from violence is not fulfilling its fundamental duty.

The author highlights the disturbing trend of Jews being targeted during the chaos, citing an incident where a synagogue in Paris's 19th arrondissement was desecrated, with Torah scrolls and religious items thrown out. Caspit stresses there is no moral connection between student issues and attacks on Jews, and when such a link is forged, protests become a cover for antisemitism. He cautions against blaming all demonstrators for the actions of rioters but notes the presence of Palestinian flags and slogans like "Free Palestine" indicate a concerning shift in a segment of the protest movement.

French Jews, Caspit writes, are being asked to justify the actions of the Israeli government and IDF, a situation reminiscent of historical antisemitism in France, such as the Dreyfus Affair and the Vichy regime. He cites statistics indicating 1,320 antisemitic incidents were recorded in France in 2025, along with an attack on a synagogue in La Grande-Motte where a police officer was injured by an explosion. Caspit argues these are not isolated events but part of a larger problem requiring national introspection, and that Jewish institutions needing constant security points to state failures.

Caspit also addresses the issue of Islamism, arguing that avoiding discussion of radical currents is not tolerance. He references a 2025 poll where 44% of surveyed Muslims favored religious norms over French law, with some reportedly preferring Sharia. He believes the state must not allow its laws to become mere recommendations and that no area should be off-limits to police due to threats. The riots, in his view, reflect the state's inability to maintain order, drawing parallels to the UK and accusing politicians of fearing the loss of Muslim votes, thereby compromising their principles for electoral gain.

He draws a historical parallel to France's 1967 decision to impose an arms embargo before the Six-Day War, withholding Mirage fighter jets ordered by Israel, which ultimately joined the French Air Force. This, Caspit argues, was a breach of trust based on political convenience rather than friendship. Furthermore, he points to France's colonial past, including torture and disappearances in Algeria, the 1961 Paris massacre of Algerian demonstrators, and the brutal suppression of a 1947 uprising in Madagascar, noting that former President François Hollande acknowledged the brutality decades later. He also mentions the 1944 Thiaroïa camp massacre of African soldiers demanding pay, which Macron recognized as a mass killing in 2024, albeit 80 years late.

Philosopher and writer Martin Boodry is quoted warning that many may soon experience what it means to be Jewish in France, as society has allegedly abandoned them, ignored their warnings, and sided with their perceived persecutors. Boodry criticizes pro-Palestinian demonstrators for their persistent displays and slogans, linking them to the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack and accusing them of boycotting Israel and spreading accusations of "genocide in Gaza." He uses the metaphor of feeding a crocodile with Jewish flesh, arguing it only emboldens the "monster." Boodry sees the Palestinian flag as a symbol of hatred for European culture.

Caspit concludes that France is paying for the arrogance of its political leadership, where human rights have been subordinated to power. He calls for French leaders to acknowledge their responsibility, open archives, and give victims proper recognition before acting as global arbiters. He also urges a re-evaluation of Palestinian terrorist groups, citing their atrocities on October 7th. Despite any potential shift in France's position, Caspit believes history will not forget these events.