A group of Arabs assaulted three young Jews on Shabbos in yet
another antisemitic attack in a mixed Jewish-Arab
neighborhood in eastern Paris neighborhood known as the 19th
arrondissement.
Police pursued a group of at least seven Arabs and Africans,
but have not concluded that the attack was motivated by
antisemitism. So far no arrests have been made. "It appears
almost certain the attack was antisemitic," said the local
police commander.
Meanwhile the mayor of the 19th arrondissement said, "The
state of violence against the Jews is deteriorating and no
solution is visible at present. We must promote dialogue
between the communities. Arab residents claim the attackers
come from their violent fringes and are beyond their
control."
Parents of the three teenagers told a Jewish radio station
that their sons were wearing yarmulkes on their way to
Minchah when a group of Arabs started hurling rocks at
them. One of the Arabs, a towering giant, grabbed one of the
three Jews, threw him to the ground and beat him while the
other six joined in and degraded the other two. "We're
leaving the neighborhood," declared the father of one of the
victims, articulating sentiments shared by many other members
of the Jewish community.
At the same site another young Jew, Rudy Haddad, was attacked
three months ago and is still suffering from the head wounds
he sustained, which landed him in a coma.
The police continue officially to label the attack an
instance of gang warfare, but an eyewitness said the Jews did
not provoke the Muslim youths in any way. One was listed in
moderate condition while the other two suffered broken noses
from punches thrown by the attackers. All three spent the
night in the hospital and were discharged the following
afternoon.
Even if the assailants are apprehended, they will inevitably
be released quickly by the authorities, as in previous
incidents. The judges hear the mothers weep and take pity on
them. One juvenile judge said the perpetrators should be
released to keep them from turning into criminals in jail and
getting recruited into Islamic extremism.
