2 Jewish men attacked by large gang in Paris

[King_David]

Two Jewish men were attacked in Paris in the middle of the day by a pro-Palestinian gang, an anti-Semitism watchdog said Friday.

The men, in the early 20s, were attacked on Friday afternoon by a gang of about 40 people, leaving them slightly injured, according to a report by France’s National Bureau for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism, or BNVCA.

The gang was identified as being members of Gaza Firm, a pro-Palestinian group, and involved in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, according to JSSNews, which first reported the attack.


http://www.timesofisrael.com/2-jewish-men-attacked-by-large-gang-in-paris/

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Ugh.

[shaayecanaan]

9. See below nt

[Scootaloo]

2. Having a look at Gaza Firm...

They claim themselves to be a response to the JDL. French anarchist, antifa, and pro-Palestinian groups seem to regard them much the same way American protesters regard "Black Bloc," with similar suspicions.

Whatever way you cut it, they're fucking assholes.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. It appears that some members of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions are not beneath racist

violence to reach their ends.

One hopes they will be arrested and prosecuted.

[Scootaloo]

4. More accurately, it's violent racists using Palestine as cover.

They're a National Front front group who are affiliated with Alain Soral, from what I'm reading.

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. French Anti-Semites Dieudonné and Alain Soral Announce Formation of New Political Party (this guy)

French Anti-Semites Dieudonné and Alain Soral Announce Formation of New Political Party
French comedian and political activist Dieudonné M’bala M’bala together with former National Front politician Alain Soral – both widely known for their anti-Semitics beliefs – have announced that they will form a new political party in France, reported Mediapart, a French online investigative journal.

Not a pleasant person.

[Scootaloo]

7. He's a shit, by every account I find

I'm tempted to post up an article about Gaza Firm, but It's a long one, goes through a google translate link, and I dunno what the standing policy is regarding repostign whol articles in that scenario.

[Xipe Totec]

6. attacked on Friday afternoon by a gang of about 40 people, leaving them slightly injured

That is fucking amazing.

Attacked by about 40 people... slightly injured...

Glad they made it out alright.

Instead of having a bolt driven through the back of their skull in the back of a police van.

[shaayecanaan]

21. See below

it appears the fact that no one emerged with anything but "light injuries" was far from remarkable.

[shaayecanaan]

8. Its bullshit

The "two Jewish men" appear to be members of the Jewish extremist group LDJ (the French version of the American terrorist group, the Jewish Defence League), who began taunting participants in the traditional May Day marches:-



http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/eyewitness-debunks-claim-attack-paris-jews-bds-activists

“We were about a dozen people,” Michael said. “As we headed to Rue des Boulets we passed about 50 members of the LDJ and Betar,” who were clearly identifiable by their clothing. Many had their faces covered and some carried sticks.

“As we passed, these people started spitting at us and insulting us,” Michael said. “They hit one of the women who was wearing a keffiyeh” – a traditional Palestinian checkered scarf.

Michael said that this attack provoked “insults” and “punches” between members of CAPAB and LDJ. Up to this point police had just been looking on, but then several officers intervened to push back members of LDJ.

“Some of the police tried to restrain the LDJ, but another police officer aggressed one of our comrades and tried to push us back,” Michael explained. “Police pushed us out of the area but let the LDJ people wearing masks and carrying sticks remain in the area of Rue des Boulets metro. They were allowed to occupy the area and do as they pleased.”

Michael notes that the anti-fascists had originally planned to meet around 1pm, but that was impossible as LDJ and Betar members were already on site. He says the attack described above occurred around 3pm – the same time as the alleged incident reported by JSSNews.

Michael, who has detailed knowledge of Paris activist groups, said he recognized no one from Gaza Firm in the vicinity of the incident.

Nothing in the French media as far as I can see. No record of any arrests. Only original reports are from fringe publications on the Jewish neo-fascist right. Its bullshit.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. I'm not sure electronic intifada is any less biased a source than the ones you're complaining about.

Also "taunting" isnt an excuse for physical violence, i'm sure you would agree.

[Scootaloo]

12. It's a much better source than JSSNews, actually

You've got Daniel Pipes in the header yelling that the muslim brotherhood is controlling the world. There's an article praising Israeli protests against the Jehovas' Witness "cult," lots of passioned defense for Pam Gellar and Phillipe Karsenty. praise for Marco Rubio, of course. Jimmy Carter is of course labeled "The antisemite." Jews associating with Obama are "court jews" that "Shame the people of Israel."

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Either way

it seems there are at least some legit elements to the story. It hasn't been fabricated entirely out of whole cloth.

[Scootaloo]

16. Fuckface fascist fistfight, for sure.

Whichever group was involved.

If it was Gaza Firm and LDJ whacking on each other, I'd happily advice the police to just stand back and let them settle it among themselves, then hose the streets clean after. best for everyone that way.

[Warren DeMontague]

17. Well, you know what they say about fascists.

[Scootaloo]

18. Maybe it's generational, but I prefer a less melodic version of the message

[Warren DeMontague]

19. I'm more a Camper Van Beethoven "Take The Skinheads Bowling" fan, myself.

But ol' Jello and co do really capture the Zeitgeist, there.

[oberliner]

11. The Electronic Intifada article doesn't debunk anything

It provides an account from one person of two groups "aggressing" one another (from the perspective of a member of one of the groups).

It then goes on and on about various groups and incidents unrelated to this reported attack.

It doesn't in any way "debunk" the attack that was reported by actual French sources (Jewish ones!)

I mean if Michael who has "detailed knowledge of Paris activist groups" didn't recognize anyone from Gaza Firm in the vicinity of the incident, then I guess that's good enough for Electronic Intifada readers!

The report from the Jewish French source that you don't like says that police were investigating but that no arrests had been made.

Is it not possible that the attack happened and then also this scuffle between these two groups happened as well?

Electronic Intifada does not seem to want to acknowledge this possibility - will you?

Edit to add: In Michael's account in the EI article, he says the incidents he described took place at 3PM. EI says this is the same time as they alleged attack on the two Jewish people, but the report actually says that attack took place at 2:30PM so there is no reason why both incidents could not have happened.

[Scootaloo]

13. INSANE French Jewish sources, mind

It's possible, as you say, that there were two separate incidents.

It's also possible that JSSNews is blowing smoke up your ass.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. That would be, like

the worst bong idea ever.

[shaayecanaan]

20. Are those the same news sources

that came up with Israel having invented the Wonder Woman invisible plane and supplying it to the Saudis? Because I'm inclined to take that sort of thing with a pinch of salt.

[Scootaloo]

23. Wait, what's this? Wonder woman invisible plane?

[Little Tich]

22. This is the source for all the articles in TOI, Arutz Sheva, Algemeiner, JTA, Fox News etc:

Source: Le Bureau de Vigilance Contre l’Antisémitisme (BNVCA)

(Google translate from French)
RELEASES
01/05/2015

The BNVCA condemns the attack committed this May 1 to 14 hours per Boulevard Voltaire forty individuals who assaulted two young men they recognized as belonging to the Jewish community.
National Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism 8 Boulevard Saint Simon 93700 Drancy 88 30 29 June 63 President Sammy GHOZLAN June 9 67 70 05/01 77 38 49 44 Drancy on May 1, 2015 BNVCA condemns the attack committed this May 1 to 14 hours per Boulevard Voltaire forty individuals who assaulted two young men they recognized as belonging to the Jewish community. The young men ages about 21 years were slightly injured. The BNVCA recommended that they file a complaint especially as an aggressor could be recognized. It belongs to a certain group of "Brothers" The BNVCA alerted to the relevant departments of the police headquarters who immediately sent forces to prevent incidents from escalating. Witnesses said members of the Jewish community at the scene volunteered not protect it for many Jewish businesses located on the Boulevard Voltaire.

(Original text in French)

COMMUNIQUÉS

01/05/2015

Le BNVCA dénonce l'attaque commise ce 1er mai vers 14 heures boulevard Voltaire par une quarantaine d'individus qui ont agressé deux jeunes gens qu'ils ont reconnus comme appartenant à la communauté juive.
Bureau National de Vigilance Contre l'Antisémitisme 8 Boulevard Saint Simon 93700 Drancy 06 63 88 30 29 Le Président Sammy GHOZLAN 06 09 67 70 05 /01 77 38 49 44 Drancy le 1 er mai 2015 Le BNVCA dénonce l'attaque commise ce 1er mai vers 14 heures boulevard Voltaire par une quarantaine d'individus qui ont agressé deux jeunes gens qu'ils ont reconnus comme appartenant à la communauté juive. Les deux jeunes gens âges d'environ 21 ans ont été légèrement blessés. Le BNVCA leur a recommandé de déposer plainte d'autant que l'un agresseurs pourrait être reconnu. Il appartiendrait à un certain groupe des "Brothers"Le BNVCA à alerté les services compétents de la préfecture de police qui ont immédiatement envoyé des forces pour empêcher que les incidents ne s'aggravent. Selon des témoins des membres de la communauté juive présents sur les lieux se sont portés volontaires pour protèger les nombreux commerces juifs situés sur le Boulevard Voltaire.

Read more: http://www.sosantisemitisme.org/communique.asp?ID=1121

I cautiously call bullshit on the whole story for three reasons: One, the BNVCA seems to exist only to exaggerate examples of anti-Semitism. Two: there’s only this one source, and the event is mostly posted in right-wing news outlets. If it actually happened the way it was described, it would have been widely reported, like all examples of anti-Semitism. Three: There is also the article from EI, while probably not reliable, actually contradicts the BNVCA in a cogent manner.

I think the source wasn’t vetted properly, and it became news by mistake.

[King_David]

24. Antisemitic incidents are rife and endemic and plentiful in Paris

It's probably true and probably did happen.

There's a lot of people desperately wanting to minimize any Antisemitic incident in the world for whatever reason.

If anything Antisemitism in Paris is under reported and not the other way around.

The reason it's not in other publications is more likely fatigue from it being such a common issue in France that this was not such a big or small "news" item.

[Little Tich]

27. I disagree. All I see is two conflicting sources, both of them equally unreliable.

Antisemism in France is widely reported, for example when a plaque commemorating Ilan Halimi was vandalized, it was big news. It just happened that I watched a documentary about him yesterday called “Jews and money”. His kidnapping, and later when he was killed by his captors speak volumes about the warped attitudes of some people.

Anti-semitism in France is already bad as it is, I just don't think it's necessary to exaggerate.

[King_David]

30. You calling it an exaggeration is an example of minimizing

[King_David]

31. "society must “never close its eyes” to anti-Semitism"

AFP). German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Sunday that society must “never close its eyes” to anti-Semitism as she joined Holocaust survivors to mark 70 years since the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau.



http://jpupdates.com/2015/05/03/merkel-in-anti-semitism-warning-as-marks-nazi-camps-liberation/

[oberliner]

25. Everything that you've written here is incorrect

The source used for the outlets was JSSNews not the BNCVA release.

The BNVCA does not exist "only to exaggerate examples of anti-Semitism". You obviously (and admittedly?) know nothing about this group.

The event was posted in a variety of news outlets - mainly ones that are geared to the Jewish community.

Two young men being slightly injured is not something that is widely reported. In fact, most examples of anti-Semitism don't get much, if any coverage unless something more serious happens (outside the aforementioned sources geared to the Jewish community). As you may know, there are hundreds of anti-semitic incidents per year.

The article from EI does not contradict anything in the BNVCA release.

[Little Tich]

26. Read my post again. n/t.

[oberliner]

28. The EI article quotes one guy who says he didn't see the attack

Last edited Mon May 4, 2015, 11:53 AM - Edit history (1)

In no way does it "contradict" anything about the initial report.

Most of the article just is a bunch of unrelated paragraphs about different right-wing groups in France.

That Ali Abuminah (and some here) thinks it represents a debunking says more about Ali and those who believe him than anything else.

It's interesting how much effort he puts into debunking these stories when they happen to Jews but when Ma'an, for example, publishes something about an attack on a Palestinian with a single quote from a single source and no other witnesses then it is just accepted as fact without all the effort and legwork Ali and friends have put into trying to get to the bottom of this incident.

But here Ali claims the story is debunked because "Michael" didn't see it happen and some group supposedly "aggressed" with his group - which has nothing to do with whether or not the initial incident occurred.

[Little Tich]

29. EI is unreliable, but it does suggest that the event was a clash between hooligans / demonstrators,

which contradicts the BNVCA report. I have no reason to believe either source, both seem to be equally unreliable.