To mark the 20th anniversary of the antisemitic murder of Ilan Halimi, the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF), in partnership with IFOP, has released a troubling new study on public opinion in France. While some indicators show a slight decline, deeply rooted prejudices remain firmly entrenched.
According to the poll, 26% of French people still believe that “Jews are wealthier than average” – a stereotype that fueled the criminal logic of the “Gang of Barbarians” who tortured and killed Halimi. More broadly, 69% believe that Jews are “more supportive of one another.” The study’s authors interpret these figures as evidence of a lingering collective imagination shaped by longstanding representations, now rephrased in more subtle ways.
The research also points to a mutation in antisemitism, increasingly expressed through suspicions of supposed Jewish power or influence, often intertwined with radical anti-Zionist discourse. For instance, 22% of respondents believe Zionism is an international organization seeking to control the world for the benefit of Jews. Alarmingly, one in two young people challenges the legitimacy of Israel’s existence.
The survey also highlights clear political divides. Among supporters of La France insoumise, 54% question Israel’s legitimacy, and 35% believe in a Jewish organization seeking global influence – a revival of classic conspiracist tropes.
On the subject of memory, the results are equally concerning: 73% of 18-24-year-olds say they do not know about the Ilan Halimi case. The UEJF warns that this erosion of memory creates fertile ground for the resurgence of hostile narratives.
UEJF president Yossef Murciano warns of a worrying normalization of antisemitism. He argues that some antisemitic prejudices are now “rebranded” as anti-Zionism, including tropes about a Jewish “lobby” or dual loyalty attributed to French Jews. “Twenty years on, the Ilan Halimi case remains a tragic symbol of the deadly power of prejudice,” he says, calling for renewed efforts to uphold national cohesion and democratic principles.
