An explosion of reports.
The leaders of French universities and major schools have recorded “67 anti-Semitic acts” within their establishments since October 7, the France Universities association announced on Monday.
“There have been 67 (anti-Semitic acts) since October 7,” declared Guillaume Gellé, president of Reims-Champagne-Ardennes University and head of France Universités, which brings together 82 higher education and research establishments. representing 1.4 million students.
This figure should be taken into account the number of anti-Semitic acts recorded during the year 2022-2023, i.e. “33 acts”, specified Guillaume Gellé during a round table devoted to anti-Semitism in higher education at the National Assembly.
An “atmospheric anti-Semitism”
Since the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, associations including Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France) but also politicians have regularly warned of the rise of “atmospheric anti-Semitism” in universities fueled by the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
After an activist from the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF) declared that she had been prevented, because she was "Zionist", from entering an amphitheater at Sciences-po Paris where a pro-Palestinian rally was being held, what the students pro-Gaza denies, Crif has requested the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into anti-Semitism in higher education.
Also read: How the suspicion of anti-Semitism at Sciences-Po became a state affair
According to the assessment given by Guillaume Gellé, “a large number of lifts are being investigated”.
“We can, however, say that for the year 2022-2023, there have been eleven referrals to the disciplinary commission for acts of anti-Semitism,” he said, specifying that since October 7, “there have been has already had six.”
Several complaints filed
“There were also four reports by establishments to the public prosecutor under article 40 in 2022-2023, compared to fourteen since October 7,” he added.
Finally, “five complaints were filed by establishments for acts of anti-Semitism in 2022-2023, compared to eight since last October 7”.
“University presidents are neither in denial nor in denial when faced with expressions of hatred,” assured Guillaume Gellé.
“We never have a hand that shakes.
It is therefore inappropriate and totally false to speak of complacency and a fortiori of cowardice”, he defended himself, affirming that “there is no separatism organized by the university institution, nor autonomy vis-à-vis towards the values of the Republic”.