Paris, France – French President Emmanuel Macron has called for intensified efforts to combat anti-Semitism in the country. This comes after government data showed a rise in hostility towards Jews, despite a relative decline over the past year.
Increase in incidents despite the relative decrease
A report by the Interior Ministry showed that France, which has the largest Jewish population in Europe, recorded 1,320 anti-Semitic acts in 2025. Moreover, this represents 53% of all anti-religious incidents.
Despite being 16% lower than the previous year, the ministry described these figures as “unprecedentedly high.” This marks the third consecutive year of such an increase.
The report noted that this increase came after Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023. As a result, the war in the Gaza Strip began.
This contributed to a rise in online hatred and affected the Jewish community in France.
During the 20th anniversary ceremony of the death of Ilan Halimi, the Jewish youth who was killed after being kidnapped and tortured,
Macron stressed the need for all institutions, from schools to the judicial system and elected officials, to participate in combating hatred.
Macron and holding online platforms accountable
The French president criticized what he called “the poison of online hatred.” He also urged the European Commission to hold major online platforms accountable for contributing to the spread of hate speech.
Macron said: “In Enlightenment France, freedom of expression stops at anti-Semitism and racism.”
Macron stressed that confronting anti-Semitism requires a comprehensive response that includes community awareness and deterrent laws.
Strict monitoring of online content is necessary to ensure the protection of the Jewish community in France. In addition, such measures help prevent the recurrence of similar crimes.
