French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister François Bayrou, have strongly condemned the vandalism of a commemorative olive tree that honored Ilan Halimi, a Jewish man who was kidnapped and tortured for over three weeks before dying in 2006. The tree, planted 14 years ago in his memory, was cut down late Wednesday night, with authorities suspecting the act was carried out with a chainsaw.
Macron denounced the vandalism as an attempt to erase Halimi’s memory, stating, “Cutting down the tree honoring Ilan Halimi is an attempt to kill him a second time.” He added, “It will not succeed: the nation will not forget this child of France who died because he was Jewish.” Prime Minister Bayrou echoed Macron’s sentiments, declaring, “No crime can uproot his memory.”
The incident has drawn international attention, with U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner praising Bayrou’s “strong and unequivocal” condemnation of the act, calling it a model of principled leadership against global antisemitism. However, Israeli Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli criticized Macron, suggesting his support for Palestinian state recognition had emboldened antisemitic acts. Chikli accused Macron of effectively “wielding the axe” and accused him of aligning with Hamas amid the conflict in Gaza.
Since Halimi’s 2006 murder, France has faced numerous antisemitic incidents, including the 2015 Hyper Cacher attack in Paris and recent attacks such as the 2024 rape of a Jewish girl by three teenagers who made antisemitic remarks during the assault. The country has also seen targeted vandalism against Israeli companies, including El Al’s Paris offices, which were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti.
Meanwhile, France’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict remains a point of contention, with recent actions like the suspension of an air traffic controller for broadcasting “Free Palestine” to El Al pilots further fueling debate over antisemitism and political rhetoric. The broader context of antisemitism in France has intensified since the war in Gaza began in 2023, with Jews facing both mass protests against Israel and incidents of violence.
Antisemitism in France has persisted since the war in Gaza began in 2023 after Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 massacre. Jews in France have not only seen mass protests against Israel. They have been victims of antisemitic violence. In June 2024, a 12-year-old girl was raped by three teen boys who, according to police reports, uttered death threats and antisemitic remarks during the attack. The incident sparked outrage in France and was condemned by Macron. According to The Times of Israel, the boys were charged with sexual assault on a minor and recording and sharing sexual images, aggravated by religious motivation. The outlet reported that two of the attackers, who were 13 at the time of the rape, were sentenced to nine and seven years in prison. One assailant could not be sentenced to jail due to his age and would reportedly be placed in closed foster care for five years.
Recently, the Israeli airline El Al has been a target for antisemitism in France. Earlier this month, the company’s Paris offices were vandalized with red paint and anti-Israel graffiti. The vandals wrote that El Al was a “genocide airline.” Just days later, a French air traffic controller broadcast “Free Palestine” to El Al pilots. The worker has since been suspended. El Al called the remarks “unprofessional and inappropriate.”
Fofana, who led the attack on Halimi, was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 and is not eligible for parole for 22 years. Two of his accomplices were sentenced to 15 and 18 years in prison. A man who was a minor at the time of the attack was also sentenced to 15 years in prison. A girl who used to lure Halimi was sentenced to nine years in prison.