2024-10-21 20:57:00
Cis a phrase almost pronounced with a certain candor by Bernard Kouchner, former Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs, co-founder of Doctors Without Borders and Doctors of the World. During the year interview given to Radio Jon October 20, Kouchner declared: “And do you know how not to be anti-Semitic when you see the damage done by the Israeli army in Gaza? Contemplate Gaza, it is a field of murders, of disasters. It is the disintegration of families. Of course there was [les attaques du Hamas] October 7 [2023]. And God knows it disgusted me. But take revenge with 40,000 deaths, if the figure is true…” He is then interrupted by the journalist Frédéric Haziza who asks him: “You say that, with what is happening in Gaza, it is normal for us to be anti-Semitic? » To which Kouchner replies: «It’s not normal, but that could be the reaction. »
It is understandable that Bernard Kouchner denounces the horrors of the war between Israel and Hamas. Intense IDF shelling and ground incursions have caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, resulting in considerable human casualties. The suffering of Palestinian civilians is undeniable. It is therefore important to underline that violence against civilians, whether perpetrated by one side or the other, raises deep concerns, because every human loss is tragic. The concern expressed by Bernard Kouchner can thus find a legitimate echo, and his call for responsibility and action to protect civilians is essential.
However, by evoking Israeli revenge, is Bernard Kouchner simplifying a complex conflict? This might give the impression that it does not take into account the responsibilities of Hamas and its supporters (Iran) in this context. This conflict pits a regular army (IDF), equipped with significant military resources, against armed terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which carried out a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023. These groups exploit the population density (5,935 inhabitants per square kilometer) in this small strip of land (362 square kilometers) to carry out their operations, hiding among the civilian population they sacrifice and using infrastructure, such as hospitals, mosques and schools, to store missiles and launch them against Israeli territory.
Anti-Semitism has reached unprecedented levels
Stating, as Bernard Kouchner does, that because of this war we could become anti-Semitic is very serious. By treading a minefield, he appears to downplay the scope of anti-Semitism by linking it to tragic events. Such justification could fuel age-old stereotypes to which Jews have been subjected and embolden those who seek to attack Jews for various reasons. This would give the impression that it would be enough to find a pretext to justify an increase in anti-Semitism, thus legitimizing this tenacious hatred and alleviating the guilt of those who easily give in to it.
It is crucial to remember that our Jewish compatriots live in a climate of fear and insecurity. Statistics reveal that anti-Semitic acts have increased significantly, reaching unprecedented levels. Since 2000, French Jews have faced waves of violence, with 13,091 acts recorded between October 2000 and the end of 2022. Integrating figures from 2023 (1,676 acts) and the first quarter of 2024 (366 acts), this total now reaches 15,133 acts, illustrating an alarming reality that has persisted in our society for more than two decades. This situation highlights the growing scope of anti-Semitism in France, which is not a recent phenomenon but a deeply rooted problem. This worrying trend highlights the need for greater vigilance and concrete actions to protect victims and combat anti-Semitism more effectively.
Anti-Semitism has no justification; it cannot be legitimized under any pretext. In this context, listening to Bernard Kouchner causes me deep dismay. Every day my colleagues and I fight against this hatred and realize how dangerous it is. It is crucial that we maintain our commitment to denouncing anti-Semitism in all its forms, as it poses a threat not only to the victims but also to our entire society.
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