France brands memorial tree destruction as antisemitic

An olive tree planted in memory of a French Jewish man who was tortured to death was cut down on August 13th, causing outrage in France, according to Al Monitor via AFP. President Emmanuel Macron has commented on the matter, and has vowed punishment over the act, which has been labelled as antisemitic “hatred.”

The olive tree was planted in the memory of Ilan Halimi. Halimi was kidnapped in January 2006 by a gang of around 20 youths, and was then tortured in a low-income housing estate in the Paris suburb of Bagneux. He was found three weeks later, and died on the way to the hospital at only 23-years-old. At the time of his murder, French citizens were horrified by the refusal of the police to label the act as a hate crime. Tens of thousands subsequently took to the streets of France to demand justice.

Regarding the felling of the tree, Yonathan Arfi, President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France described the act as “extremely painful.” he spoke to AFP, and also stated that ”this is not just an antisemitic act, it is a way for antisemites to shout that they are here more than ever.”

The olive tree in his memory was planted in 2011, in the northern Paris suburb of Epinay-sur-Seine. It was found cut down, most likely with a chainsaw, causing French citizens to express their dismay on August 15th. This has caused fresh concerns about a potential rise in antisemitic acts and hate crimes in France, due to international tensions swelling over the conflict in Gaza. Relations between France and Israel have been souring due to the latest plans of the Israeli military to conduct a full-scale “conquest” of the Gaza Strip. This was condemned by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who described the plan as being “in violation of humanitarian law.”

France has one of the largest Jewish communities in the world, and many French Jews have said that the number of antisemitic acts have heightened following the October 7th 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which was then followed by Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, as well as their blocking of aid.

In the Paris Air Show on June 15th, France blocked five Israeli arms companies from exhibiting certain products, which were branded as “offensive weapons” by a French government source. This is further proof of the deteriorating relations between France and Israel.

Macron spoke on X, saying that “every effort will be made to punish this act of hatred,” adding that France’s fight against antisemitism will be “uncompromising.” He also said that “the nation will not forget this son of France who died because he was Jewish.”

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has also weighed in on the situation, calling the tree “a living bulwark against oblivion.” He added that “the never-ending fight against the deadly poison of hatred is our primary duty.”

Epinay-sur-Seine Mayor Herve Chevreau has filed a criminal complaint due to the act. Paris police chief  Laurent Nunez has launched an investigation.

A new memorial tree is set to be planted “as soon as possible” by French officials.

Al-Monitor via AFP, Maghrebi.org