A disturbing incident took place in Lyon, France, on Saturday when a Jewish woman was viciously attacked in her apartment, an assault which was deemed to be motivated by anti-Jewish bigotry.
The incident has raised even more concerns about the surge in antisemitic violence in France that occurred after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that killed over 1,000 people.
A Jewish woman was stabbed twice in the stomach at her home in Lyon, with police finding a swastika on the door after the attack.
The woman, believed to be in her 30s, reportedly suffered mild injuries during the attack after opening her door when the doorbell rang.
The male attacker fled the scene wearing all black and with his face hidden, and was still on the run on Saturday.
Stéphane Drai, the woman’s lawyer, said on BFMTV: “The victim, her family and the Jewish community are shocked… When we opened the door, we did not know that we could be the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, which could amount to an attempted murder.”
The presence of a mezuzah, a traditional Jewish symbol, on her door, combined with the swastika, led investigators to suggest that the assault was the result of an “antisemitic motive.” However, some have been hesitant to apply that label just yet since the suspect has not been apprehended.
Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet condemned the attack, saying that “such a surge of violence is unspeakable.”
This is not an isolated incident. France has seen a disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks, especially amid the current war between Israel and Hamas. It has prompted the resurgence of the hashtag #JeSuisJuif, translated as “I am Jewish,” on social media. It is reminiscent of the reaction to a 2015 antisemitic attack on a Kosher supermarket in Paris.
Last week, it was reported that France has witnessed a shocking surge in antisemitic incidents since the October 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel. A staggering 819 such acts have been reported – nearly double the total for all of 2022, according to the latest report confirmed on Monday by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
This surge has sent shock waves throughout the French Jewish community, with many expressing a deep sense of fear and dread reminiscent of darker periods in history. The sudden increase has raised alarming questions about the state of tolerance and security for Jews in France.
Law enforcement is still searching for the assailant and has not given much in the way of details about the individual who they believe committed the crime.
Fortunately, the woman in Lyon survived her attack, but it seems clear that being Jewish in some parts of France has become even more dangerous as tensions rise against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East. Antisemites have become more comfortable with openly expressing their hatred of Jews and support for Hamas.
All across the Western world, pro-Hamas protesters have demonstrated against Israel, chanting slogans like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which is a thinly veiled way of saying the Jewish nation will be wiped out. The incident in Lyon provides a stark reminder that anti-Jewish bigotry remains an issue. Unfortunately, there are still too many who are willing to act on their enmity towards the Jewish people.