Mr First Secretary of the Socialist Party,
Anti-Zionist criticism barely masking disguised anti-Judaism, “Jewish conspiracy”, rhetoric of exploitation, trivialization and minimization of the Shoah… Over several decades, the question of anti-Semitism in our society, as within the various French political parties, has taken on a complexity and new forms.
Ambiguity of the left
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, France and the world have experienced a surge of anti-Jewish hatred. However, the refusal of certain elected officials to condemn the horrors of October 7 and their anti-Semitic character contributes to fueling the release of hatred on social networks and in the daily lives of the French.
The finding is alarming: 1,676 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in 2023. Worse, during the three months following the October 7 attack, the number of anti-Semitic acts equaled that of the previous three years combined. Faced with this renewed violence, French people of Jewish faith feel alone and abandoned.
Today, the universalist France that we hold dear is in danger. The Socialist Party, which has always been at the forefront of the fight against hatred, must be the driving force behind the Republican upsurge. However, it is obvious: the NUPES alliance maintains unease, because it effectively brings together parties with different relationships to the resurgence of anti-Semitism that France is experiencing today.
Some NUPES activists and sympathizers even attacked several of our comrades because of their family or religious affiliation. We cannot accept being associated with personalities or structures that do not have an impeccable discourse on the issue of anti-Semitism. If this fight in no way calls into question the freedom to criticize and condemn the policies pursued by the State of Israel and/or its Prime Minister, it cannot be a pretext for spreading anti-Semitic prejudices.
We refuse the so-called electoral analysis which wants to essentialize the voters and suggests that there would be a Jewish vote, a Muslim vote, and that to win communes one would have to sacrifice one's republican values.
Worse, to attract a so-called Muslim electorate, it would be necessary to include anti-Semitism in its programs. It is an insult to Muslims, it is an insult to our Living Together.
To raise awareness
The fight against anti-Semitism, like all forms of discrimination, requires will and not declaration, commitments and not renunciation. Without detour, without hesitation and forcefully, the Socialist Party must reaffirm its unfailing commitment to this fight.
Also, Mr. First Secretary, we are calling for the creation of an ad hoc commission to combat anti-Semitism within the Socialist Party, a commission which will aim to raise awareness and train all activists on new forms of contemporary anti-Semitism, to support comrades who are victims of hatred because of their belonging and to develop clear and strong proposals for the country in the fight against anti-Semitism. Initial proposals could be made as part of the next Conference organized by the government on May 6.
READ ALSO : Left and Hamas: “Which French worker will follow organizations that tolerate political Islamism and murder?”
Many French socialists, starting with Jean Jaurès, were involved in supporting Captain Dreyfus, the victim of conspiracy and anti-Semitic hatred.
French resistance was also supported by many socialists (Felix Gouin, Daniel Mayer, Suzanne Buisson, Robert Verdier, etc.). Strengthened by this history, faced with anti-Semitism, the left cannot remain silent today, the universalist left that the PS embodies must wake up and stand up to refuse any deviation, any “Corbynization”. We invite you to be one of them.
Please believe, Mr. First Secretary, in our socialist greetings.
Signatories:
Éléonore SLAMA, deputy mayor of XIIe district of Paris
Mickael DELAFOSSE, mayor of Montpellier and president of Méditerranée Métropole
Mahor CHICHE, advisor of Paris XIXe
Rachid TEMAL, senator of Val-d'Oise
