Anti-Semitic acts increased by 200 percent in the first half of the year in France

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin revealed on Sunday that anti-Semitic acts increased by 200 percent in the country in the first half of the year. Darmanin explained in an interview on France 2 that a “very significant increase” in these acts was detected in the first half of 2024. “Two-thirds of anti-religious acts concern Jews,” he noted. The minister mentioned this information following the arson attack on a synagogue in La Grande-Motte on Saturday. The attacker, who was subsequently arrested, set fire to the building and then stood in front of the door “with his axe,” he said. French media reported that he was carrying a Palestinian flag. Darmanin stressed that the arrival of law enforcement “in less than two minutes” caused the man to flee. In addition, the minister emphasized the “maximum protection” of places of worship, which would have prevented a worse situation. The suspect was injured in the face during his arrest. “We don’t know if we will be able to question him,” because his state of health is incompatible with an interrogation, Darmanin said.