A national tragedy (ISRAEL HAYOM OP-ED) Ambassador Christophe Bigot 03/20/12)
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=1588
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France is stunned. The horrific acts that occurred outside the Jewish
day school and took the lives of four French Jews, among them three
children, has stirred an upheaval of emotion in France. The thoughts
of the entire nation are with the victims and families of this
tragedy. The entire political establishment, along with
representatives of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, has unanimously
condemned this crime.
This is the time to come together to remember the victims, but also
to trust in the abilities of French authorities to find the attacker.
France condemns this despicable act in the harshest terms: It will
not go unpunished, and all resources will be brought to bear to catch
and bring the killer to justice.
At this stage we can only point to similarities between this crime
and two other shooting attacks that occurred last week, resulting in
the deaths of three French-Muslim soldiers.
This tragedy struck not only France’s Jewish community, but the
country as a whole. Today, every school in France will dedicate a
moment of silence to remember the victims.
Our Israeli friends need to know that France is handling this tragedy
at the highest possible levels and that extraordinary measures are
being taken within the framework of the investigation. Interior
Minister Claude Guéant has ordered that security be bolstered at
Jewish and Muslim schools and other religious institutions throughout
the country, because any person who wishes to practice his religious
beliefs must be able to continue to do so.
We will not give in to terror. Hatred will not be victorious. All of
the country’s resources have been enlisted to investigate this crime.
France today is a wounded country, one that is uniting around the
memories of those who were lost.
However, be absolutely certain that France is as determined as it has
ever been to bring those responsible to trial and find justice.
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