Katy Greene
January 23rd, 2009
12:50 PM
Due to the conflicts in the Gaza strip region, tensions have greatly increased between the Jewish and Muslim minorities in France. Due to the wide variety of news channels available in France, such as Al Jazeera, Muslim minority groups in France feel much more connected to their homelands. France has both the largest Jewish and the largest Muslim communities in Western Europe, and the conflicts between Israel and Hamas have escalated hostilities between the two groups.
The numerous demonstrations and acts of violence have led the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to search for a way to end the hostilities. Both groups accuse the other of having a long-lasting hatred that is religious in origin, not just political. Four synagogues have been bombed since December 27th, when the Gaza conflict began, and several people from both sides have been attacked in the streets. Leaders from both sides claim that they do not hate the other's religious beliefs, but that they identify with their respective comrades in the Middle East. Both groups say that the only way there will be peace in France is if the Hamas and Israeli leaders come to an agreement.
In my opinion, both the Jewish and Muslim communities need to strictly adhere to nonviolent protesting. I understand that they identify culturally with what is going on in the Middle East, and they should be able to make their feelings known. However, there is no excuse for violent demonstrations or attacking random people in the streets. The French leaders need to strictly enforce punishments for those who commit hate crimes, and work with the two minority groups to come to a peaceful understanding.
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