Racism against Palestinians is accepted in France.
Yonathan Arfi from CRIF – the most prominent pro-Israel group in Paris – declared earlier this year that there was “no moral equivalence between collateral victims, civilian, who were not deliberately targeted, and victims of terrorism.”
The message was clear: For Arfi, Palestinian lives do not matter.
Far from being shunned for his naked bigotry and his dismissive attitude to the genocide Israel is perpetrating in Gaza, Arfi and his organization still enjoy cordial relations with France’s ruling elite. In May – a few months after Arfi made that vile comment – Gabriel Attal, the French prime minister, addressed CRIF’s annual dinner.
Attal tried to please his hosts on that occasion by ranting against the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI).
Smearing that party is a preoccupation for the pro-Israel lobby. And the smears have been relentless in the current election season. ….more
