The situation in France is improving: economic growth is positive; the housing market has come alive and employment is growing. People are more vigilant since the dramatic terrorist acts of 2015-16, the intelligence services are more active and public debate is lively and better informed. It feels better for Jews too, but the future is highly uncertain.
The forthcoming Presidential elections continue to dominate the news, but no-one dares predict the outcome. Candidates are subject to fierce scrutiny and voters are fickle.The traditional right-left divide is fracturing in the face of weak mainstream party candidates: the conservative Francois Fillon’s legal and moral issues are undermining his support, while socialist Benoit Hamon lacks presidential standing and is challenged by the extreme left Jean-Luc Melenchon. Unexpected space in the centre has opened for the brilliant Emmanuel Macron, 38, former economic advisor to president Hollande and former Rothschild banker.
The Macron message is new and optimistic, pitched above traditional ideologies. Watchwords are work and entrepreneurship, freedom and creativity, openness to the world coupled with strong social protection. His new party “En Marche” might be loosely translated “Yes we can”. His meetings are positively evangelical.
Latest polls show Macron winning a second-round run-off against Marine Le Pen 60/40, but he could still come unstuck. Francois Bayrou has now joined Macron, adding both political experience and support from an established centre party, but Fillon might withdraw in favour of a stronger right wing candidate. Macron could stumble at the televised debates or cause himself unprovoked damage as in Algeria recently where he described the French colonial period as a crime against humanity. Voters may decide not to go to the polls.
Emmanuel Macron will undoubtedly attract Jewish support. He stands for an open, tolerant society and an innovative market economy. He has good contacts with the Jewish community and admires Israel’s start-up economy. But he has so far shied away from taking clear positions on foreign policy, national security, national identity or multiculturalism, preferring caution and consensus despite the title of his book “Revolution”. We miss the firmness of Manuel Valls, former prime minister, who said “France without its Jews would not be France”.
Jews have done well in post-war France. The influx of North African Jews helped rebuild community institutions and Jewish self-confidence. Jewish names can be found in high profile positions everywhere from politics to medicine, business and media to academia, literature, psychology and sociology.
But all is not well. Jews are no longer alone as targets for terrorist acts in France, but they share the general anxiety. Systemic antisemitism in the suburbs has pushed Jewish families towards Jewish schools, new neighbourhoods and Aliya. Israel is still widely perceived as an oppressive colonial power, though conservative politicians better understand Israel’s complex situation and French/Israeli military and intelligence services cooperate closely.
Some Jews will vote against Marine Le Pen because of her party’s traditional antisemitism and criticism of dual nationality, while others will vote against Hamon because he is too cosy with anti-Zionism/anti-Semitism linked to political Islam. Jews today might defend the traditional French integration model with religion a private affair, which their forefathers adopted as the price of citizenship two centuries ago, or vote for multiculturalism and free public expressions of their religion, knowing that the same claim is made by an assertive Muslim population ten times their number.
So, what does one do? Fight as French citizens for the French values of liberty, equality or fraternity? Fight for community rights as Jews? Or get on a plane for New York, Montreal, Sydney or Ra’anana…The US option looks less attractive than it did.
"Reuven Levi" has been a Paris resident since 1981. He married in the United States and is father of three and grandfather of six. He is an active member of the Jewish Community
