It’s always much more than just a meeting. A “renewal of alliance,” one might say, if this term didn’t risk borrowing from – and consequently incurring the disapproval of the most orthodox – the ritual and sacred liturgy of Judaism. It’s a gathering that seals the unwavering commitment of the Jewish Community of the Provence Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region to the essential values of France.
In his welcome speech to the many participants and political guests at the annual dinner of CRIF South-East, on Sunday, October 25, 2009, its president Alain Belhassen outlined the theme of “free choice,” which, “as a constant, drives every Jew towards freedom.” He took care to illustrate his point with the example of Venezuela: “For the past five years, two-thirds of Jews have left the country,” he noted, criticizing the political governance of this country, which over time has become a privileged ally of Iran.
This “choice of France,” Alain Belhassen wanted to clarify: “I want to emphasize again this year our love for France and our republican commitment,” to the point of “making it our country” and being “proud to be French Jews.” He also mentioned one of the guests of honor, filmmaker Claude Lanzmann, described as “an explorer of our deep identities” and whose “every experience is marked by France and Judaism.”
An annual dinner where its president outlined the triple purpose: first, “to thank and welcome all those, from state services to those of the region and cities, who agree to listen to us throughout the year.” Then, “to share together a moment of republican conviviality” by confirming that “we are actors in our city.” Finally, he announced, “to express our concern about the violent operations of boycotting Israeli products being prepared.” He concluded with these words: “We are culturally aware of being in solidarity with others.”
The national CRIF President Richard Prasquier revisited the boycott perspective to “ask for the authorities’ intervention at the first signs.” “Unfortunately,” he continued, “a certain number of clouds darken the international environment.” “The situation in Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be resolved,” according to him, “by the existence of two states living side by side.” “But not two Palestinian states,” he specified, referring to the control of the Gaza Strip by Hamas. Among the “recent events,” Richard Prasquier mentioned the “Goldstone report, commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council” which “resulted in allegations against the Israelis,” adding sarcastically, “and in a more limited way, against Hamas.” “This Human Rights Council,” he exclaimed, “is a caricature in the hands of countries, Libya, Cuba, Iran, and Sudan, which are the greatest human rights violators.” “It’s no wonder,” he added, “that this Council seeks to sanction Israel: twenty-six out of the thirty-two resolutions concerned the Hebrew state,” regretting, in passing, “that no investigation was initiated by this Council in Sri Lanka, where 25,000 people, or more, perished.”
According to Richard Prasquier, one should not “underestimate” the consequences outside of Israel where there will be “demonization of the Zionists.” While calling for vigilance against misinformation likely targeting the Hebrew state, he acknowledged that in France “we are relatively protected.” He concluded his thoughts with the concerns inspired by the development of potential Iranian nuclear capabilities and expressed satisfaction with the determination of French positions, “extremely clear, particularly those of the President of the Republic” who deemed “unacceptable the possession of nuclear weapons” by the Islamic Republic.
After the intervention of filmmaker Claude Lanzmann, who also “freely” meditated on his Franco-Israeli destiny, Minister of Industry Christian Estrosi recalled his commitment to raising young people’s awareness of the Holocaust, the intervention of Regional Council President Michel Vauzelle, and that of Prefect Francis Lamy confirming the “vigilance of the State” on anti-Semitic acts, the Consul General of Israel in Marseille, Simona Frankel, among other things, called for boosting trade exchanges between the two countries. These annual exchanges remain limited – about 2.5 billion Euros. During a recent trip to this country by Anne Marie Idrac, Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Trade, it was emphasized in this regard that some French business leaders too often forget that “the Israeli GDP is equivalent to that of Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon combined.” That is to say, anything but a small market.
