
The early 2000’s for Europe mark an era of change. During this time migrants and refugees gained more media attention and scrutiny as they came in higher numbers from Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. A main part of this had to deal with the terrorist attacks occurring during this time frame. Many migrants traveled to Europe for work, where others sought to escape wars or to start a new life. However, the media picked up one of the hot button political views that comes along with accepting foreigners into your country: by accepting people from at risk nations you also accept the chance that your allowing religious extremists to enter. This idea was reinforced when the US invaded Afghanistan in response to 9/11. In the early 21st century Europe seemed to accept the migrants coldly, however that notion completely died off at one point – yet we are beginning to see a resurgence of those old anti-immigrant views. Often the anti-immigrant views go hand-in-hand with anti-Islamic views. These views appear to be quite regressive from an outside stance. Not to mention the fact that harbor negative sentiments towards a religion that is often peaceful. Yet when people feel that foreigners are overrunning their home it is easy to understand how anti-Islamic sentiments can also develop when many of the immigrants are Muslim. Even with these growing fear and concerns, far-left ideals have become the norm in Europe and with such – tolerance of all is much of an unspoken mandate. Speaking out of favor with these ideals quickly gets you discredited and labeled racist ect. Despite the miniscule opposition, politicians have done much to aid and help assimilate migrants into their country. The politicians have done this by banning certain speech, speakers, and providing shelter, food, education, and healthcare to immigrants. History has shown us time and time again that when a certain view is oppressed it begins to take root and grow.

France has not been immune to the influx of refugees and migrants starting in the early 2000’s (Engler). France has been a multi-ethnic country post-WWII and has been both the home to the majority of Muslims and minority of Jews in Europe (Laurence & Vaïsse). After the war, with tensions still high in Germany, many Jews relocated to different European countries and found it to be more hospitable to their culture. Being that France is connected to the Mediterranean Sea, they are accustomed to having a diverse migrant population that renews each year. With famous locations, such as Paris and Notre Dame, France is known to be an exceptional and hospitable place to visit or settle into. Traditionally France has shied away from keeping record of population religion and ethnicity as they fear that it is a move reminiscent to the Nazi Era (Bleich). Their laws have been shaped in respect of this with “color blind policies… that have no direct regard to ethnic groups or race” (Bleich). However, they have been affected differently to the increasing migrants coming in during the early 2000’s. These years marked the growth of anti-Semitic views in relation to the migrant Muslim population in France. Not to say that before the early 2000’s there was no anti-Semitic views in France. France has had their fair share of anti-Semitic sentiments in the past 200 years, however it notably subsided after 1944 and has not threatened the Jewish people like it does in the present (Laurence & Vaïsse). 

Accepting migrants into your country is a standard that has always been, and will always be. But, the new stream of foreigners has a dangerous undertow that is brought along with it. The Islamic countries, that migrants are leaving, have an appetite of oppression whether it be towards homosexuals, Christians, or differing minorities. There have been numerous new reports that show the blatant persecution of homosexuals, and Christians. Typically, the reports that make it to the news deal with beheading, burnings, and stoning. Many argue that it is a way of life that is systematic to Islam. In concern to anti-Semitic views in Islam, there are several different verses in the Quran on the Jewish religion. Blankley argues that Islamic culture teaches the people to see Jews as “apes” and “the worst of creatures” – citing quotes taken straight from the Quran, “Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures”, and “So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."” (Sahih International Quran Surah 98:6, 7:166). From the verses above you can deduce that should the Quran be taught in full, and the verses enforced in full, then there should be a natural animosity towards Jews from the Muslim people. The Quran also has a verse for any Muslim who might begin to befriend a Jew, “O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.” (Sahih International Quran Surah 5:51). The previous verse alone gives one doubts that a migrant assimilating from an Islamic country could have difficulties coexisting with the Jewish people with no regards to anti-Semitic views from prior verses. One of the most startling verses that deal with the Jewish people is the last verse that mentions them in the Quran, “Say: O you who are Jews, if you think that you are the favorites of Allah to the exclusion of other people, then invoke death If you are truthful.” (Sahih International Quran 52:6). It is an Islamic belief that if you die in the name of Allah then you will go to heaven and receive your blessings. Judaism ideology teaches that Jews are the chosen people of Israel, and in the previous verse the Quran challenges Jews to kill themselves and see whether or not they are the right.

Migrants grow up in this culture and accept it inherently regardless of how awful it is much like the racism within America during the 1900’s. That being said, not all of immigrants will agree with it, but they are in a culture where speaking out and lobbying for change can get you killed. This can be seen in the case where a blogger in Saudi Arabia criticized Islam. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes over a course of 20 weeks, and a fine of 266,000$ (AFP News Agency). Whereas most modern countries are constantly adapting and improving themselves to eradicate the faults of their past – some countries lack that progressive nature. It can be seen in many predominantly Muslim countries where the country’s religion is law and change is not something you can quickly do to a sacred text. In addition to the culturally ingrained teachings, Muslims are taught from a young age is an animosity towards Jews (Vidal)(Blankley). It is hard to understand this if you are familiar with the Jewish and Muslim ethnicity, because they are both Semitic races. This animosity undoubtedly ties back into the land Israel took land in the 1948 and 1968. Israel currently occupies the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and has regular spouts with the Palestinians that claim the West Bank and Gaza as Palestinian homeland. Essentially, Israel is trying to further their land claims and push into both territories that are the home of a majority of Palestinians. However, the efforts they have made have resulted in rocket strikes and bombings against them – which they respond in kind with. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on Israeli-Arab relations have been tense ever since (Jeffrey) and Israel refuses to give back the land they claim is theirs. Attempts have been made to offer Israel an olive branch, but within that offer they have to open up a debate on the ongoing land conflict they have with Gaza (Jeffrey). Anti-Semitic propaganda increased during the early 2000’s and further promoted this anti-Semitic way of life in Muslim cultures (Vidal). The propaganda was readily accepted as the Arab world saw Israeli forces further repressing the Palestinians. The propaganda consisted of speakers, television shows, ads, and education material. The propaganda also encouraged, and took root, that both the Holocaust did not happen and that the Jews are using it for their benefit in society. 

Migrants are often dwelling in impoverished areas, and see the Jews as the well-off group in France. The fact that they are indoctrinated and then escape to a better society only to suffer in the land that was supposed to be their chance at a new life reinforces the things they have been taught. It is hard to argue that this has no direct correlation to the spikes of anti-Jewish acts committed in France. Of course, this is not how all Muslim feel, and you cannot attribute an idea to an entire culture – you do see Muslims coming out and negating the popular views (Allal). It is only rational that when you think about assimilating migrants from strong Muslim cultures that they too will carry a plethora of beliefs that go against the culture they are entering into (Barber). ProThis is why you many migrants have been expelled from France (Dunham).

Jews in France feel threatened to the point where it is more than a daily barrage of verbal attacks (AFP News Agnecy). With numerous attacks in the past seventeen years, Jews are leaving France in record numbers every year (Laurence & Vaïsse). They are hard-pressed to find security, and often feel the need to leave France. For those that stay behind there are two actions that they can take: they live in defiance of the ongoing persecution and call for the government to take action, or they can relocate to a different part of France where there are established Jewish communities (AFP News Agency). Jews that return to Israel face a lesser hardship compared to remaining in France. Relocating to Israel means they have to spend a small fortune to get there and then to get settled in. Even after settling into their homeland, they have to rebuild the life that they had in France. It goes without saying that France realizes the oppression on Jews is growing. They have the reminder that their nation has the smallest population of Jews in Europe and that the population dwindles every year. However, when this started during the early 2000’s the government did little to ensure the safety of Jews from anti-Semitic views – no thanks to the already growing far-right that is vehemently opposed to migrants in their society (Zachmann). Jews are used to acts targeting them and the acts are not entirely unexpected. But, the French government took action in 2004 and banned wearing any religious symbol during school. However, this took action across the board against all religions and to a degree further confirmed Jewish suspicions that there was not much to be done in ways of preventing anti-Semitism. Jews by this point did not wear kippas, their religious headpiece, because by then they had discouraged public use of anything that would identify them as Jewish in fear of attack or harassment.

Anti-Semitism is a growing problem in France. The influx of Muslim migrants has only worsened that problem. The migrants hold fast to many beliefs and ideals even when they assimilate, which becomes harder yearly when so many have yet to do that. They live in growing impoverished migrant communities and face discrimination from the far-right for the actions of a few. The far-right is notorious for feeding off of terrorist attacks and uses it as a rallying cry to gain supporters in their movement to “cleanse” the country. Basic psychology will tell you that when someone is being oppressed they will retreat further within themselves and lash out at others – this type of behavior is prominent with bullying. The discrimination that they face only further cements their determination to hold fast to the way of life that they once had and makes their dislike for Jews that much more of an outlet. Not to forget, that some who infiltrate the system are Islamic fundamentalist and they continue to perpetuate their anti-Semitic beliefs to their fellow brothers. What has taken place in France is the creation of anti-Semitic sentiment breeding ground. The French government has been acting and taking steps as of late to correct the problems. But, the problem has grown at a rate that it will take years for them to quell the views. Had they taken the serious action and not waited when reports of attacks, and murders surfaced – this situation could be different. Improvements can still be made to negate the growing effects we are seeing. In regards to refugees escaping their at-war country, Saudi Arabia has a “tent city” where there are 100,000 air conditioned tents with no inhabitants (Howell). France could halt their acceptance of refugees and send them towards Saudi Arabia, a culture much similar to that of their own, while France recuperates. Secondly, if the France wants a change then they are going to need the French people to reach out and make an effort to integrate the migrants into their society. It takes more than laws and punishments to correct the hurt that accumulates over a lifetime. Enforce the current laws across the board to all citizens, hold everyone including the migrants accountable for their actions. The things that are happening to Jews are not exclusive to France, it is happening all over Europe. A change in methodology and a fuller understanding of who you accept into your country and what that means is needed.
