Today’s French Revolution
In July 1789, the Paris Bastille was stormed by rampaging mobs, and the established order of autocratic rule was swiftly swept away.
Michael Kuttner
With the departure of the monarchy, a hopeful new era dawned, and French Jews looked forward to being fully emancipated and taking their rightful place as citizens with guaranteed civil rights.
Although the future looked promising, and liberty, equality and fraternity seemed like a messianic utopia, those who embraced this newfound freedom made a serious miscalculation. The entrenched prejudices of the aristocracy, the Roman Catholic Church and knee-jerk conservative reactionaries lurked just under the surface. This unholy trinity of Jew-haters, together with sections of the press, would, sooner rather than later, cause serious problems for the French Jewish Communities.
Those Jews who thought that by assimilating and even converting, they would be fully accepted as equal members of the Republic inevitably made the same mistake as their Spanish and Portuguese compatriots. Undeniably life was certainly more tolerable, but as the Dreyfus case and then later the Vichy experience was to prove, there was no escaping the malevolent intentions of those ill-disposed towards French citizens of the Mosaic persuasion.
Slowly but surely, French Jews integrated themselves into the everyday life of the Republic and took advantage of all the educational opportunities becoming available. As a result, they became loyal citizens and more or less a tolerated minority.
Fast forward to 2023, and the dramatic changes which have taken place should ring alarm bells.
The secularisation of French society has impacted not only followers of Judaism but also Christianity and Islam.
Bans on the public display of religious symbols and clothing in public schools, libraries & government buildings mean that Christians cannot openly display crosses, Jews cannot wear kippot, and Muslim women cannot wear hijabs. Imagine for one moment if these discriminatory laws had been enacted and enforced in Israel. The whole international community would be in an uproar, and Israel would be pilloried and condemned by all and sundry. The Vatican and the World Council of Churches would be writhing in holy indignation, and the French would be among the leaders of a moral crusade to excommunicate the Jewish State.
The deafening silence surrounding this French assault on religious freedom is just another example of the prevalent double standards and hypocrisy now part of the UN and its associated bodies.
Normally the reaction of the French Jewish Community would be the classic Diaspora one whereby muted comments might be made and alternative methods employed to comply with the law. That meant Jewish men wearing hats or baseball caps and making sure that their clothing did not clearly identify them as Jews.
However, with a massive influx of Muslims to France, the entire situation has dramatically changed.
With over five million Muslims and just half a million Jews, the demographics have dramatically altered, mirroring a similar pattern in most of Europe and Scandinavia.
Whereas Jews strove to be model patriotic French citizens, this is not the case for a significant number of immigrants now flooding into the country.
On the contrary, young, unemployed young men bereft in many cases of a meaningful education now roam the suburbs of major cities where crime is rampant.
Tragically, it is not just these misfits who are causing mayhem in parts of cities where police now fear to patrol and enforce law and order. The rot has also infected schools where teaching about the Shoah is a banned subject. Teachers have been assaulted and even murdered because of their perceived negative attitudes towards Islam.
Herein lies the root of the catastrophe, which is slowly but surely unfolding in France today.
The radicalisation of young Muslims by those already brainwashed and the inability of moderates within the community to counter such activities is leading to the mayhem we are witnessing. Instead of being educated towards tolerance, the opposite is inculcated.
The tragedy is that the French authorities have not learnt and, moreover, do not want to learn from the experiences of others in a similar situation. Political correctness and a fear of upsetting woke progressives is only resulting in further major upheavals.
The recent riots, arson and destruction of property are merely a foretaste of what is yet to come. There can be no compromise when the ultimate aim is the destruction of Western liberal values and the supremacy of a triumphant Islamic caliphate.
Unsurprisingly one of the collateral targets and victims of this incubating Islamic revolution in France are the Jews.
Seen as part of the successful educated sector of society, plus being perceived as supporters of the “evil Zionist enterprise,” French Jews and their buildings are easy and natural targets. Physical violence against Jews and vandalism against their properties is on the rise and will get worse.
Interfaith outreach and futile attempts at dialogue are now too little and too late.
The French Government’s constant dismissive and condemnatory denunciations of Israel’s campaign to root out Islamic radicalisation, means that no serious solution will be achieved in France.
With a falling birth rate among the secular and Christian French population and a soaring birth rate among the Islamic population, the demographic future is clear.
All that remains uncertain is how long it will take before France becomes a de facto Islamic Republic. It will definitely occur after Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands transition, but on current trends, there can be no doubt as to its inevitability.
Where France goes, so will one day the United Kingdom and other former bastions of Christian Europe follow.
Where does all this leave the Jews?
Despite the usual myopia and expressions of false optimism, it will leave them stranded in increasingly intolerant societies. The inevitable rise of radical right-wing political parties with dubious past histories of fascist and Nazi-like sympathies may temporarily delay the outcome but will not, in the end, provide a solution.
Trying to preserve viable Jewish communities in places where it becomes increasingly hostile is no longer a winning strategy.
The best answer is to make aliyah. Critics will say that here in Israel, we face much the same problems. The difference, of course, is that Israeli Jews can deal with it and not have to throw themselves on the mercy of indifferent strangers.
As far as France is concerned, it would seem that in order to break the endless cycle of violence, there is an urgent need to create two states for two people and divide Paris.
In other words do exactly what they preach to Israel every day.
VIVE LA REPUBLIQUE ISLAMIQUE DE FRANCE
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.
Michael’s discussion of France vis-a-vis the Jewish situation historically and the changes to French society and life due to the massive Muslim immigration is certainly true in summary.
However, I think the French government, and the police who have to handle so much of the internal mayhem, are more than concerned about this and would like to change it. Indeed the laws Michael refers to that forbid wearing of religious symbolism came as a result of these troubles.
For Israel to continue to be a place of assumed safety for Jews in the Diaspora – as it always has been – thought will have to directed to the disunity and divisiveness caused by political leaders such as Netanyahu who no longer think for the country, but spend their time entrenched in political game-playing, themselves the only vision they have. What we see happening now, especially with the democracy of Israel in mind and the rights of its citizens protected, is giving Jews all over the world a different and worrying perspective. We can take on board being in Israel and helping defend ourselves against aggressive, war-mongering Arab neighbours, but having Israeli citizens’ democratic rights eroded is quite another thing.