The confrontation between Hamas and the Israeli armed forces remains intense, with the death toll rising day by day, the situation worsening, and no resolution in sight.
All this heralds further demonstrations in support of the pro-Palestinian cause. Fortunately, in either case, there have been no incidents, with protesters limiting themselves to slogans and, in a few rare cases, expressions of anti-Semitism.
But the issue is precisely this: the conflation of the Israeli government’s policies (which can be criticized) with the Jewish faith of a significant number of French people (who deserve absolute respect).
If we cannot move beyond this situation through information and education from both sides, we will remain stuck in positions of opposition against each other, whereas the real goal is to overcome intolerance and to understand and accept one another, each with their own beliefs and values.
It is admittedly difficult, but we must not give up.
The Prefecture has so far shown restraint, but if the situation in the Middle East were to worsen, the situation on the ground could become more difficult to manage.
There is talk (or questioning, as the mayor of Nice does) of banning demonstrations. However, a demonstration must have an organizer, motivation, and be authorized for reasons of public order.
A gathering, on the other hand, is merely a collective meeting in the name of individual freedom to assemble; how can it be prohibited except for presumption of guilt, which is difficult to prove for an event that has not yet taken place.
It is true that today it is easy to act in this way and circumvent the law through technologies that allow for issuing calls to action in a (nearly) anonymous manner.
If the effect is the same, ultimately, what principle should prevail?
In recent days, during demonstrations held in Nice, it involved a few dozen, maybe two to three hundred people, and everything went well.
But tomorrow… ?
