The head of government, Michel Barnier, several ministers, former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, as well as former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Manuel Valls were present during this ceremony.
“A year, in Jewish tradition, is the time it takes to move from mourning to remembranceobserves Yonathan Arfi, the president of Crif. But how can we move on to a time of remembrance when hostages are still being held in Gaza?”. One year after the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, a ceremony was organized, Monday evening, at the Dôme de Paris, by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, to pay tribute to the 1,205 victims of the massacre and to support the families of the hostages.
“We are all children of October 7”insists the voice-over while terrible images flash on the giant screen. “No one escapes October 7! will repeat in his speech Yonathan Arfi, who “to all the victims of October 7” would like to add «Dominique Bernard»this professor murdered on October 13 in Arras by an Islamist. “To this day there remain 100 hostages, including two Frenchhe recalls. How can we truly feel free when we still know they are captive? »
Among the more than 4,000 people present, the head of government, Michel Barnier, several ministers, as well as former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Manuel Valls. Personalities from the world of culture too, who will read moving texts or list odious anti-Semitic acts. Families of hostages are in the audience. At midday, the Head of State, then the Prime Minister, received the families of the two French hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Anti-Semitic acts “not always reported”
“The security of the people of Israel is non-negotiable !, chants the Prime Minister, much applauded. These people find themselves in a situation of self-defense.” But when he mentions “the commitment to do everything possible to secure release” the hostages, “shared by the President of the Republic”the latter is booed by the crowd. On Saturday, Emmanuel Macron spoke out in favor of stopping arms deliveries to Israel used in Gaza. While 887 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in the first half of the year – an almost tripling over one year – Michel Barnier promises to improve the detection of acts, “which are not always reported”and to continue the protection of schools and synagogues. “We won’t let anything go!”he concludes.
To listen to the “prayer for the French Republic” recited by the Chief Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia, the room rises. “Thank you to each and every one of you for allowing us to experience this incredible moment of fraternity and Republican warmth”he finishes.
Brotherhood? On the stands, Corinne, who came with her 16-year-old daughter, “would have liked all French people to feel concerned”. “In addition to the shock, this terrible sadness that we felt after this day which was like a second Shoah for us, we felt very alone throughout this yeardeplores this mother of four children. The torn down posters, the silence, the gratuitous hatred… it’s very hard to live with. I don’t think there are many non-Jewish people here tonight, unfortunately. However, we should all fight together against this rise of Islamism! »
