Demands of ‘death to Jews,’ ‘light Up the Ovens,’ in Wake of Plane Disaster

A wave of anti-Semitism broke out in the town of Nice on the French Riviera last Thursday night following the Libyan airline tragedy. Slogans saying “Death to Jews,” “Light up the Ovens,” and “Seven Frenchmen Have Been Killed, Seven Jews Will be Assassinated” appeared on the walls of synagogues, on the doors of the French Jewish welfare association (FSJU), the French United Jewish Appeal (AUJF), and on the fronts of Jewish-owned businesses.

Jewish community leaders met with police and with the Mayor on Friday. In a communique, they “deplored the haste with which certain groups have revealed their violent anti-Semitic feelings by calling for the murder of French citizens.” Police have opened an investigation. No further incidents have since occurred. In Paris, a leading Jewish personality told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he hoped the incident was “just a local one, which will not spread.” He added, however, that the Jewish community should be “vigilant.”