Mar 19, 2012

'Jews Should Leave France' After Brutal School Shooting

Ryan JonesBy Ryan Jones
Israel Today

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An unidentified gunman opened fire at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France on Monday killing four people, three of them children, and prompting renewed calls from Israeli lawmakers for the Jews of France to move to Israel en masse.

Police officers at the site of a shooting at a Jewish school on Monday in Toulouse, France.

The victims of the attack at the Ozar Hatorah school were later identifed as Yonathan Sandler, a teacher from Jerusalem; Sandlers two children, 6-year-old Aryeh and 3-year-old Gavriel; and the 8-year-old daughter of the school's principal. Several more people were wounded in the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement deploring the "loathsome murder of Jews" and expressing confidence that French President Nicolas Sarkozy "will do everything possible to find the killer, and we will help with that."

Several Israeli lawmakers insisted more drastic action is called for.

"The attack on a Jewish school sets off a red light for all the People of Israel," said Likud Knesset Member Danny Danon in remarks to Israel National News. Danon said he intends to call an emergency Knesset session over the French school shooting and the general increase in global anti-Semitism.

MK Yaakov Katz of the National Union Party wasn't waiting for that Knesset session, and issued an immediate call for the Jews of France to immigrate to Israel.

"There is no Jewish future in France," insisted Katz.

French Ambassador to Israel, Christophe Bigot agreed that the shooting was a "barbaric act" and a "crime against humanity," but told the Times of Israel that Katz's call for mass emigration was "misplaced."

Despite Bigot's assurance that "France offers the very best protection," Israel's Ynet news portal reported that French Jewish communities are fearful that Monday's school shooting could be the start of a violent new wave of anti-Semitism.

"We are worried that another wave of terror is upon us," the head of the French branch of Bnai Akiva, Binyamin Tuati, told Ynet.

"Attacks on Jews have been taking place for centures, and it was only a matter of time before the situation got worse," added Dr. David Shapiro, an expert on anti-Semitism in France.



Related Links
Victims of French shooting to be buried in Israel • OneNewsNow
Three neo-Nazi paratroopers suspected in shooting • Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu Condemns 'Loathsome' Shooting • Arutz Sheva
The Source of Anti-Semitism • SpiritandTruth.org (Andy Woods)
In France, anti-Semitism lurks below the surface • CBS News