French foreign ministry opens investigation into former employee over 'anti-Semitic' vandalism

An investigation has been opened into the recruitment of a former foreign ministry employee seen in Paris tearing down portraits of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, shouting "Israel is a murderer," according to a statement from the Quai d'Orsay on Tuesday.

Samuel Lejoyeux, head of the UEJF (Union of Jewish French Students) walks past pasted photos Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Paris. AP - Michel Euler

According to a statement from the Quai d'Orsay released on Tuesday, "A former employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on contract has been identified tearing down the portraits of Israeli hostages in Gaza", adding that the hostages "include several French nationals, most probably minors".

The statement came after a viral video was posted on X (formerly Twitter) showing a woman tearing down posters of Israeli hostages in a street in the capital's 2nd arrondissement, immediately challenged by passers-by who described her gesture in English as "shame," to which she replied with "Israel is a murderer".

The video of Sophie Pommier destroying posters of kids kidnapped by Hamas has gone viral.

She was employed by the French Foreign Affairs Ministry as an expert on the Arab world

The ministry says they’ll never work with her again

Thanks @noam_zada for recording the video pic.twitter.com/1YuIHSrXBS

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 8, 2023

Professor and former consultant on Middle East

"The video broadcast today shows an attitude, behaviour and utterly disgraceful comments that completely disqualify this person from having any working relationship whatsoever" with the ministry, the Quai said. 

"Although this person has had no contractual relationship with the ministry since last summer, an administrative investigation will be launched as of today at the request of [Foreign] Minister Catherine Colonna into the conditions of her recruitment," it added. 

• Probe into Stars of David graffiti in Paris suggests foreign interference

Ms Colonna "reaffirms in the strongest possible terms that hatred, extremism and violence are by definition incompatible with direct or indirect participation in the conduct of France's foreign policy," the statement said.

The former employee was identified as Sophie Pommier, a professor at Paris' Sciences-Po university and a consultant on Middle Eastern affairs with the French foreign ministry. 

Communiqué du ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères (7 novembre 2023)

Une ancienne collaboratrice contractuelle du ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères a été identifiée arrachant le portrait d’otages israéliens à Gaza. Parmi ces otages figurent plusieurs…

— France Diplomatie🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo) November 7, 2023

Spike in anti-Semitic 'acts'

The ministry also said it was aware of some publications comparing Hamas terrorist attacks to the French resistance against Nazi occupation, but it added that such viewpoints "probably fall within the definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, endorsed by France in February 2019" and "it will be up to the courts to determine whether they justify ... criminal prosecution".

According to the leaders of both chambers of the French Parliament – who have called for a protest march against anti-Semitism in Paris on Sunday – anti-Jewish acts in the country have risen sharply since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. 

With more than 1,000 anti-Semitic complaints recorded in just one month, that represents twice as many for the whole of 2022.

On Monday, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne underlined that France condemns the death of 40 French nationals and eight missing – including hostages – following the 7 October attacks by the Hamas against the State of Israel.