The Israeli ambassador to France, Daniel Saada, denounced Wednesday in Strasbourg a "
manifestation of hatred
", after the refusal of a Deliveroo delivery man to take charge of orders in establishments run by Jewish restaurateurs, and told them expressed support.
To read also: "I do not deliver the Jews": Schiappa summons the management of Deliveroo after accusations against a delivery man
"
I have come to say that it is time that we understand that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are the same scourge which feeds and feeds the same ancestral hatred
," he told reporters.
"
As for the candidate for the Miss France contest boasted for having simply mentioned the Israeli origin of her father, it is still a manifestation of hatred that we must denounce and fight
", he added, with reference to anti-Semitic messages who had targeted Miss Provence in December, and which led to the opening of an investigation for incitement to racial hatred.
In Strasbourg, two complaints were filed on January 7 by two restaurateurs following the refusal, by a Deliveroo delivery person each time, to take charge of an order in their establishment.
The ambassador's visit was greeted by the two restaurateurs, who said they were “
surprised and happy
” with this show of support.
“
His coming is important, it can shake things up.
Such facts must be taken seriously
”, testified one of them, Salomon, who did not wish to specify his name.
"
I have been working in the restaurant business for eleven years, this is the first time that this has happened to me, you must not let it go
."
Following the restaurant owners' complaint, an investigation was opened and entrusted to the Departmental Security.
At least one person was arrested and was still being heard on Wednesday, January 13, “
This event shocked people, because Deliveroo is part of their daily life, these are people who come to their homes, and they realize that among the delivery men, some are malicious
”, underlined Thierry Roos, spokesperson for the Israelite Consistory of Bas-Rhin.
"
This hatred of the Jews germinated in the rising generation, that of young adults, who are imbued with this anti-Semitism of which they do not even know the background,
" he lamented.
For its part, Deliveroo said it took "
this incident very seriously
" and launched an internal investigation.
"
I was very shocked to learn of the incident,
" said Melvina Sarfati El Grably, general manager of the company in France, in a message posted on social media.
"
Anti-Semitism, no more than any other form of racism, has no place at Deliveroo
".
