A 20-year-old man was arrested after climbing the Conflans-Sainte-Honorine synagogue in Poissy, Yvelines, and removing the Israeli flag.
French media reported on Monday that the man – who was already known to the police – admitted to the offense, and to being drunk at the time. According to some French reports, the individual tore down the flag and set fire to it on Sunday evening. However, Le Parisien said it was found intact by municipal police officers.
Le Figaro learned from the Versailles prosecutor’s office that the man is charged with trespassing in a place of worship, theft by climbing, and damage to property on religious grounds.
Poissy Mayor Sandrine Dos Santos told Le Parisien that she condemned the incident in the strongest terms, “by one or more individuals who must be very severely punished.”
he expressed “[her] solidarity, as well as that of the city, towards the Jewish community directly targeted by these unacceptable antisemitic acts.”
Dos Santos added, “Faced with the increase in violence, our commitment against discrimination remains unwavering and will not waver. We repeat it loud and clear: no form of racism or rejection of others has a place in Poissy.”
Antisemitic incidents in France
This follows a spate of antisemitic incidents in France in recent days. On Friday, a Holocaust memorial and two synagogues in Paris were defaced with green paint. On the same day, a Parisian rabbi was violently struck several times in the stomach in Normandy. The victim, Rabbi Elie Lemmel, wrote, “I received a blow and was insulted in a language I didn’t understand.”
Later in the weekend, an elementary school in Lyon was set on fire and sprayed with antisemitic and pro-Palestinian slogans and swastikas.
