French Jewish politicians receive police protection amid Israel-Gaza tensions

French police are providing security for leading MPs amid concerns about a rise in antisemitic violence linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet and MP Meyer Habib are among those being protected by the police. The interior minister of France has reported that there have been over 100 antisemitic incidents since Saturday. In response to the escalating situation, Germany's chancellor has declared "zero tolerance" for antisemitism and has promised to ban a pro-Palestinian group that celebrated the killing of Israeli civilians. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to hold meetings with political leaders and give a televised speech in an effort to prevent further tensions. France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, with almost 500,000 members. The incidents reported have included graffiti featuring swastikas and hate messages, as well as individuals attempting to enter schools and synagogues with knives. Additionally, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet has received death threats. A member of President Macron's political party, she displayed the Israeli flag's colors in parliament and organized a minute of silence following the Hamas attack. The party also intends to exclude a member of a recognized terrorist organization from attending a documentary screening. MP Meyer Habib, who represents a constituency encompassing Israel and the Palestinian Territories, has also been provided with protection. He has expressed his support for Israel and likened the recent events to pogroms. The aftermath of the Hamas attack has caused divisions within French politics. While the majority of parties have condemned the attack and affirmed Israel's right to respond, the initial response from Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party was more ambiguous, referring to the Hamas attack as "an armed offensive of Palestinian forces". Germany's chancellor has made it clear that Israel's security is German state policy and declared the banning of a pro-Palestinian group that distributed sweets to celebrate the Hamas attack. Furthermore, Israeli flags raised in solidarity with the country have been torn down and destroyed in various German towns. Chancellor Scholz emphasized that Hamas would not have been able to carry out such attacks without Iranian support.