French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for an intensified fight against antisemitism and unveiled a new initiative to commemorate Righteous Among the Nations across the country. During a state ceremony marking 120 years since the exoneration of Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus, Macron said plaques and memorial markers should be placed on every house, building, or site where Jews were hidden and saved during the Holocaust.
1+According to Macron, “In the face of the renewed awakening of vile antisemitism, vigilance is a duty at all times.” He called on all local authorities in France to take part in the initiative and commemorate those individuals who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazi regime.
In his speech, the French president drew a connection between the Dreyfus Affair and the rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years. According to him, Dreyfus’s wrongful conviction at the end of the 19th century is not just a historical chapter, but a reminder that hatred and prejudice can resurface even today.
1+As part of the memorial events, a statue of Alfred Dreyfus was also unveiled in front of the Court of Appeals in Paris—the same institution that overturned his conviction 120 years ago and recognized his innocence. At the same time, the Paris city council announced that a square that had until now borne the name of writer Maurice Barrès, known for his antisemitic views, will henceforth be named after Lucie Dreyfus, Alfred Dreyfus’s wife, who stood by him throughout his struggle to prove his innocence.
La France passe un cap dans son hospitalité envers les israéliens.
Peut importe si vous y habitiez en ce moment, chaque maisons ou bâtiments que les Juifs auront frôlés, sera marqué d’un insigne.
pic.twitter.com/paNWspVoG4— Réfractaire le retour 👑 (@_Refractaire_) July 12, 2026
Macron’s remarks come against the backdrop of a rise in the number of antisemitic incidents in France in recent years. Despite the good intentions, some online criticized the proposal: “France is taking it up a notch—and will mark every house or building that Jews passed through.”
https://www.c14.co.il/article?p=1616575
Meanwhile, we reported earlier that French intelligence services last night foiled a potential terror attack against the large Jewish community in Sarcelles. A suspicious vehicle containing weapons was located near the local synagogue. Police forces evacuated hundreds of civilians from the area, and police bomb technicians carried out a controlled detonation of the suspicious vehicle.