Rising Anti-Semitism in the Côte d’Azur: Swastikas, Inscriptions, and Arrests

An inscription discovered in the Antibes basin, swastikas in Hyères and in a building in the Toulon sector; or even 25 acts of an anti-Semitic nature announced by the public prosecutor of Nice in a single month, 5 by that of Toulon… In the Côte d’Azur, a sharp increase in anti-Semitism is noted, the Jewish community does not give in But don’t panic.

Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli soil on October 7, an increase in acts of an anti-Semitic nature has been recorded on French territory. Nationally, there have been more than a thousand. More in a month than in a whole year. This is what Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin declared on November 5, with 486 arrests to be made.

A development also observed in the Côte d’Azur. Guest on France Blue Azure This Monday, November 6, the new public prosecutor of Nice Damien Martinelli revealed that 25 anti-Semitic acts had been recorded in just four weeks in his jurisdiction.

“We do [ce] observation. If we look at the number of anti-Semitic incidents since October 7, we have of course a very significant increase compared to September. The count that we have made is 25 facts likely to present an anti-Semitic dimension.”

Among these, “facts of apology, facts of threats, facts of degradation with this aggravating circumstance”. Around fifteen investigations are underway, there have been five criminal proceedings (two concerning minors and three concerning adults) affirms the successor of Xavier Bonhomme.

You have to be firm and quick on this type of facts.

Damien Martinelli, the public prosecutor of Nice

At the microphone of the France Bleu Azur morning show

“For adults, we choose rapid prosecution through immediate appearances for a firm response. For these three adults, we have had two committal warrants, cases which are currently being judged, and a sentence of the prison closes with execution at home using an electronic bracelet.”

Contacted, the public prosecutor of Toulon, Samuel Filniez, confirmed – this Tuesday, November 7 in the early evening – that he had “recorded 5 acts in the judicial district of Toulon”. Or 5 times less than its counterpart in Nice for the same period.

“For the district of Draguignan, we have 5 reports brought to the attention of the prosecution of an anti-Semitic nature (tags, comments made in class, etc.)” reacted Pierre Couttenier, the public prosecutor of Draguignan.

The prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Hugues Moutouh, mentioned 45 acts of an anti-Semitic nature and 28 arrested. These concern elements of apology for terrorism, insults and threats).

In Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, according to information corroborated by two sources, an inscription was discovered this Monday, November 6, then noted by the police: “Nike Zionists Free Palestine”.

“We didn’t have any at the moment” underlines a police officer contacted on the telephone on November 7. This inscription was discovered on a wall, but “person from the Jewish community [ne vit] in this building.

David Zakine does not give in to fear. For years, he has chaired the Antibes Jewish community and affirms that it has never experienced an anti-Semitic act. However, “we are vigilant, we do what is necessary in terms of security, which is within our power”, he explains.

New precautions have been taken, sometimes costly in material terms: “We had to change the gate, to improve everything mechanical at the synagogue and cultural center.” Recent work, carried out in the wake of the events of October 7.

We have very serious management with the Antibes police, things are going well.

David Zakine, president of the Jewish community of Antibes-Juan-les-Pins

Enough to protect yourself a little more from a potential intrusion, and above all to reassure you. “In the community, people are definitely afraid. It has become a little empty, thanks to its followers. It’s a community that is made up of elderly people, young couples… They are a little reluctant about the idea of ​​coming to the synagogue.” he explains. “For the moment, no events are canceled” continues David Zakine as in a month, the Hanukkah celebrations will begin.

Still in the Alpes-Maritimes, another recent fact has caused concern. Last October 18, a man armed with a knife threatened another person, then was arrested by the Cannes anti-crime brigade. An intervention welcomed by Minister Darmanin in a tweet. The scene took place in front of the station, a stone’s throw from Bristol high school, and the Jewish religious association.

If the motive still remains unclear, no apparent link has been established at this time with the proximity of this place of the Jewish community.

However, this news item had an echo. On the other side of the Mediterranean, Rebecca lives with her two daughters south of Tel Aviv. This expatriate Cannes resident heard about this arrest. His father lives in the city of festivals, and stopped him from going to his place of worship.

Since October 7, air alerts have increased in Israel. They are now daily over the country. Rebecca, who lived in Cannes until 2013, made Aliya. “I have already experienced four wars” she remembers. “Two hours after giving birth, while I had my daughter in my arms, an alert forced us to go down to an anti-missile shelter.”

We are not safe anywhere, even if I return to France, anything can happen, even in the street.

Rebecca, former resident of Cannes expatriated to Israel

However, for the moment, she is not considering returning to this Riviera town even though she and her two daughters have French nationality. She has already inquired with the Quai d’Orsay, but she wishes to stay in Israel.

A possible Hezbollah offensive on the country, from Lebanon, could change the situation and push her to temporarily leave the country in which she has lived for 10 years.

Many people think about Aliyah more and more. This is now part of everyday discussions, we are told. “We are afraid, we would feel safer in Israel than in France” said the owner of a business this Tuesday evening. Behind her counter, she collects the last purchases of a regular. A pizza and some odds and ends. The establishment which offers kosher products will soon close.

When we discuss the resurgence of anti-Semitic acts in the Alpes-Maritimes, two episodes immediately come to mind for the three people in this business in one of the large towns on the Riviera coast.

During the day, a shopping cart on wheels, with a large garbage bag inside, was left on the sidewalk, “There, right in front.” “You know, the type of Caddy that old people use, someone must have forgotten that.”

The street is punctuated by a Jewish school where the merchant’s children attend school. “The army has arrived” – through the soldiers of Operation Sentinel – and the police were also present on site. “Mine clearance operation” these three witnesses tell us. Everyone welcomes the daily presence of the military and the police in this one-way street which is rarely used. A few moments later, a police 3008 calmly passes in front of the store front. The scene is set, that of a tormented daily life.

The customer who will soon taste his Italian specialty, packaged and kosher, relates what happened to one of his acquaintances, an octogenarian. “Yesterday he went to the station, he met three young people who shouted at him ‘Jews, Jews’“ he says. All while laughing. The intervention of an older passerby stopped the incident. The octogenarian then took refuge in a restaurant. “I know him, he’s still shaking” explains the one who has just paid for his shopping.

As dinner approaches, this mother confides that the mezuzas have been removed in front of certain apartments or houses. Further on, another trader about to close explains these are “the yarmulkes that were removed.”

“Two complaints were immediately filed by the City of Hyères following the discovery of spray-painted swastikas” confirms David Girard, the chief of staff of the mayor of the Var commune of Hyères, by email this Tuesday, November 7.

Among the places tagged, a Paul Long school building (on air conditioning), and the seafront promenade. Seven swastikas were found in total, two on the ground, and five on the benches.

“The mayor wants the authors of these tags to be sought, arrested and convicted; and has shown his emotion and his total support for the Jewish community of Hyères.” says the councilor’s chief of staff Jean-Pierre Giran.

The mayor also requested a presence and reinforced surveillance of the municipal police.

David Girard, chief of staff of the mayor of Hyères

According to our information, a few days after October 7 and the Hamas terrorist attacks, a member of the Jewish community found a similar tag, a swastika, in his building. The case was not publicized, we learned this Tuesday. Mainly due to the resident’s fear of seeing themselves in the press.

Gilles Zeitoun, the director of the Jewish community of Toulon, is tempered. “For the moment, there are tensions, we feel them”, but does not mention “nothing catastrophic”.

In the largest city in Var, he salutes the efforts of law enforcement and the prefecture. “In my community, in Toulon, the police are doing their job, security is ensured, services are taking place, but there are fewer people.”

A situation which tends to become commonplace, to the great dismay of the Jewish Riviera residents interviewed.