Hollande to map out plan against anti-Semitism and racism

French President François Hollande will map out the government plan against anti-Semitism and racism at the 30th dinner of the French Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF) Monday night. This comes amidst the recent surge of attacks against Jews in France and in Europe . 

French President François Hollande at a Jewish cemetery in the city of Sarre-Union in the Alsace region on 17 February 2015. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

Hollande will speak in front of 700 guests at this very popular but often criticized event hosted by the CRIF.

Born in 1943 under Nazi occupation, the CRIF is the political representative body of France ’s Jewish community, the largest in Europe with about 500,000 Jews. Its critics however accuse it of putting Jewish interests first before that of the nation.

French Jews have become increasingly worried since last month's jihadist attack against a kosher supermarket in Paris, the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in the Alsace region and the attack on a synagogue in Copenhagen.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged French Jews to return to their “homeland” of Israel, in the aftermath of these assaults.

2015 has seen a growing number of anti-Semitic attacks and President Hollande has spoken out many times against anti-Semitism in an attempt to reassure the Jewish community.

Hollande first outlined the government plan against anti-Semitism and racism during a meeting at the Paris-based Foundation for the Holocaust Memorial in January.

According to the Elysee Palace, the plan is based on four pillars: “Sanction with an intensification of repressive measures against anti-Semitic and racist acts, transmission of the values of the French Republic, education, the fight against anti-Semitic and racist schemes on social networks”.