Overview

• On the night of May 31, green paint was used to deface the Holocaust memorial, three synagogues and a Jewish restaurant in Paris.
• The Paris prosecutor’s office classified the incident as property damage for religious reasons and launched a hate crime investigation.
• Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the vandalism as a vile act targeting the Jewish community and Mayor Anne Hidalgo vowed zero tolerance for antisemitism.
• Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged French authorities to swiftly hold the perpetrators accountable and the Israeli embassy expressed confidence in their pursuit of justice.
• The incident underscores rising concerns about antisemitism in Europe as France’s call for EU sanctions over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis adds strain to its relationship with Israel.