Francois Hollande has called for tougher laws governing race hate, homophobic or religion-based crimes.
The French president laid out his proposals at a Jewish group's dinner in Paris, during which he reassured the country's Jewish community that they were both welcome and safe in France.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His reassurances come as part of a concerted push by the French government to extend support to the country's Jewish community.
In the wake of the supermarket siege, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Jews to return "home" to the country due to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. The French prime minister Manuel Valls reacted swiftly to the remarks with a statement to French Jews that "France is wounded with you and France does not want you to leave".
More than 100 Jewish graves were desecrated in eastern France earlier this month, the BBC reports. There has also been a rise in Islamophobic incidents following the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices.
President Hollande's remarks were overshadowed by a row that erupted between French Jewish and Muslim community leaders, after the leader of the French Jewish community accused young Muslims of being responsible for "all violence today”, Reuters reports.
The remarks prompted a leading Muslim group to boycott the annual dinner, which typically draws together leaders from all the major religions as well as prominent politicians.
On Monday night, meanwhile, French authorities seized the documents of six nationals who were allegedly planning to travel to Syria to join jihadists, the BBC reports.
Bernard Cazeneuve, interior minister, said the men wanted to join the Islamic State militant group, according to information from intelligence services.
-
How is Chili's saving casual dining? Could others follow?Today's Big Question Value and TikTok virality bring in the diners
-
NASA is abandoning the climateThe Explainer Climate missions could be going dark
-
Every MCU movie since 'Avengers: Endgame,' rankedThe Week Recommends How did the recent 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' stack up?
-
Israeli security cabinet OKs Gaza City takeoverSpeed Read Netanyahu approved a proposal for Israeli Defense Forces to take over the largest population center in the Gaza Strip
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
After Israel's brazen Iran attack, what's next for the region and the world?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Following decades of saber-rattling, Israel's aerial assault on Iranian military targets has pushed the Middle East to the brink of all-out war
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefsSpeed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Why Israel is attacking Iran now
The Explainer A weakened Tehran and a distracted Donald Trump have led Benjamin Netanyahu to finally act against long-standing foe
-
The France-Indonesia push for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solutionTalking Points Both countries have said a two-state solution is the way to end the Middle East conflict
-
Starving Gazans overrun US-backed food aid hubspeed read Israeli troops fired warning shots at the Palestinians
