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5h ago

Unknown Attackers Chop Down Olive Tree Honoring Ilan Halimi

President Macron has vowed to punish what he called an act of antisemitic hatred after the olive tree was cut down.

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An olive tree, planted in 2011 in Ilan Halimi's memory, was cut down, probably with a chainsaw, in the northern Paris suburb of Epinay-sur-Seine
French Leader Macron Vows Justice After Unknown Attackers Chop Down Tree Honoring Murdered Jew

Overview

  • The olive tree, planted in 2011 in Épinay-sur-Seine to commemorate Halimi, was felled Wednesday night, apparently with a chainsaw.
  • Mayor Hervé Chevreau filed a criminal complaint and Paris police chief Laurent Nunez opened an investigation pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice.
  • President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as antisemitic hatred and vowed every effort would be made to punish those responsible.
  • Prime Minister François Bayrou described the tree as a living bulwark against oblivion and affirmed France’s uncompromising fight against the poison of hatred.
  • The incident follows earlier desecrations of Halimi memorials in 2017 and 2019 and occurs against a backdrop of antisemitic acts rising from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023 before dipping to 1,570 last year.