Anti-Jewish vandalism in Paris linked to Gaza

December 30, 2008

PARIS (JTA) --Two anti-Jewish acts in Paris have been linked to Israel's operation in Gaza.

The crimes were reported by the Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism, as pro-Palestinian rallies were held across France.

The bureau said in a statement that a rabbi's car was vandalized, and anti-Jewish graffiti was drawn on the wall of a shopping center on Sunday night, in response to the Israeli raid in Gaza.

"Through their gesture, the anti-Semitic authors wanted to avenge the Palestinians," said the statement released Monday night.

Pro-Palestinian rallies have been held in several French cities since Israel began bombing Gaza on Saturday. The AFP reported that between 200 and 500 protestors on average have gathered in Paris, Lyon, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nancy, in sporadic protests since Saturday.

The largest protest took place Monday in Lyon, numbering about 1,000 according to police, and 2,000 according to organizers. Protestors chanted slogans such as "Hamas resistance" and "Gaza martyr, the world must react," according to the French daily, Le Parisien.

On Tuesday, the group Generation Palestine is scheduled to hold an evening protest in Paris. The organization also set up a temporary public information booth in the center of Paris to distribute pro-Palestinian fliers and to "protest Israeli war crimes," according to its Web site. About 200 demonstrators gathered at the booth on Monday, according to police.

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Anti-Jewish vandalism in Paris linked to Gaza

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