New York, N.Y., February 7, 2002 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on French President Jacques Chirac to publicly denounce anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish actions in France, saying "for too long French authorities have turned a blind eye to what we believe deserves to be called a crisis situation."

Some of the many actions against the French Jewish community include numerous physical attacks and arsons against Jews and Jewish institutions and, most recently, an incident involving vandals attacking a statue honoring Alfred Dreyfus by scrawling the words "dirty Jew" on it.

"For too long French authorities have turned a blind eye to what we believe deserves to be called a crisis situation," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We call on President Chirac to come forward with clear and strong public denunciations of the anti-Jewish violence and incendiary anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric and to honor France's tradition of respecting human rights."

Mr. Foxman also said, "to be silent while an anti-Semitic campaign is being waged against Jewish institutions and members of France's Jewish community is to shirk the responsibility of government to protect its citizens. It is important that President Chirac recognize this serious situation and that public steps be taken to curb the violence." ADL has communicated this issue in a letter to President Chirac.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.