Anti-Semitism in France? But Which Semites? by Rannie Amiri  "Paradoxically, it seems that, after complaining of centuries of persecution, Israelis are now tempted to see a lack of anti-Semitism as an obstacle to encouraging immigration to Israel" (Eric Marsden, Sunday Times, 16 November 1975). A diplomatic row has erupted between France and Israel over recent remarks made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during a meeting of the American Jewish Association in Jerusalem. In his comments, Sharon called on Jews to leave France for Israel, saying, "I think it's a must and they have to move immediately" in order to escape "the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism." For those well-acquainted with Zionist doctrine, immigration to Israel is yet another example of an offensive measure deceptively disguised as a defensive one. More familiar actions following the same pretense have included pre-emptive strikes against neighboring Arab countries, assassinations, further expansion and annexation of territory, and the building of the Middle East's Berlin Wall. The single area, though, where Israel finds itself at a decided disadvantage against the Palestinians has been, and continues to be, demographics. A low birth-rate versus a significantly higher one. Numbers, plain and simple. The founding Zionist terror groups, Irgun and Stern, recognized this very early. They were instrumental in terrorizing Jewish citizens of other nations (especially Arab) thus coaxing them into fleeing for Israel and bolstering the population of the newly manufactured state. Most famously in the 1940s, for example, synagogues in Baghdad were routinely attacked and bombed by the Zionists to make the immediacy of the situation more readily apparent. As should be obvious, it was never over concern for the welfare or safety of the Jews. "The last thing on earth that interested Zionist leaders was humanitarian work, saving victims and refugees" (Moshe Menuhin, The Decadence of Judaism in Our Time, 1965). Over the last 50 years, the motives cited and tactics employed have changed little. A brief look at a few recent incidents in France should help one decide whether the charge levied by Sharon of the "wildest anti-Semitism," holds true. On July 11, 23-year old French citizen Marie-Leonie claimed she and her 13-month old baby were savagely attacked on a train north of Paris by a gang of six "North African appearing" men who accused her of being Jewish. They allegedly used a knife to cut her hair and rip her clothes, and then proceeded to draw swastikas on her stomach as other passengers stood by passively. The attack was widely condemned throughout France. President Jacque Chirac himself reacted with "horror" as all accusatory fingers pointed toward France's large North African Arab community as the repository of such anti-social, violent behavior. After the most preliminary investigation, questions immediately arose when no evidence or witnesses to the purported attack could be uncovered. It did not take long for Marie-Leonie to admit she fabricated the entire affair. Although the tale itself may have been factitious, let us make no mistake it saying that it WAS anti-Semitic. But it was the far more numerous, overlooked Semites who were the real victims of this racist yarn: the Arabs. Indeed, scapegoating Arabs and Muslims is what has become the all-too-common occurrence in France and the rest of Europe. We can also glean additional insight into the claimed rampant anti-Semitism in France from Alex Moise. As head of the organization "French Friends of Israel's Likud Party," he filed a complaint in January after receiving numerous intimidating anti-Semitic calls and threats. In May, the Jewish Telegraph Agency reported Moise was fined and received a suspended jail sentence after confessing to staging the threats himself. Another valid example of anti-Semitism? Of course, but only if we ask which Semites were the real victims. Earlier this year, France instituted a policy of prohibiting religious symbols from being worn in public schools, a measure overwhelmingly supported by the French people. Ostensibly applying equally to all conspicuous religious symbols such as the crosses and skull-caps worn by Christians and Jews, it is well understood that the law's primary purpose was to limit the wearing of the hijab or head-scarf, by Muslim girls. Without going in-depth into this debate, suffice it to say it was in France that legislation targeting one specific religious group largely composed of (Arab) Semites, was passed. I do not deny there are anti-Semitic incidents in France, committed against both Jews and Arabs. Ariel Sharon's call must, however, be placed in the proper context, both historically and politically. His disingenuous motive, to unduly scare French Jews so as to increase the number who immigrate to Israel, only does injustice to those who are the real victims of anti-Semitism. Zionists now, as they have in the past, are only manipulating, twisting, and exploiting such behavior to further their own racist agenda. Such a strategy was outlined in 1952 by Sharun, Editor of the Israeli newspaper, Davar: "I shall not be ashamed to confess that if I had the power, as I have the will, I would select a score of efficient young men - intelligent, decent, devoted to our ideal and burning with the desire to help redeem Jews - and I would send them to the countries where Jews are absorbed in sinful self-satisfaction. The task of these young men would be to disguise themselves as non-Jews, and plague Jews with anti-Semitic slogans such as 'Blood Jew', 'Jews go to Palestine' and similar intimacies. I can vouch that the results in terms of a considerable immigration to Israel from these countries would be ten thousand times larger than the results brought by thousands of emissaries who have been preaching for decades to deaf ears" (Alfred Lilienthal, What Price Israel ?).  More than 50 years later, I am afraid his vision may be coming to pass. Rannie Amiri is an independent observer, commentator, and exponent of issues dealing with the Arab and Islamic worlds. ACTIONS: >> email this article to a friend  >> react to this article  >> more articles Note: Please email your opinion to op-ed@majalla.org; Op-Ed articles are not peer-reviewed. New Op-Ed articles are published monthly, and as special edition when warranted