FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
PARIS – Boualem Sansal, 74 years old, a great Algerian writer who has always fought against radical Islamism because of his closeness to the Jews and Israel, defines himself as a victim of anti-Semitism, “because I am not a Jew for genetic reasons, but culturally, they’re pretty much genetic.”
Is the war between Hamas and Israel spreading beyond the borders of the Middle East, as many have feared?
“Unfortunately, I believe we have fallen into a world war between Israelis and Palestinians. These episodes of anti-Semitism could foreshadow a series of Islamist attacks around the world against Israelis, but also against Jews in general. They will strike in Europe and of course in France, because this is where most of the continent’s Jews live, and they will strike with the at least ideal support of the local anti-Semitic supporters that we already see at work today. And then I also fear operations against the Jews in the USA, which have a very strong symbolic value. It is a world war because, as we can see, it will take place across the entire planet.”
Do you think the Europeans have understood this?
“Not yet, it takes some time to understand that we have now reached a different level.”
Is there too much understanding of Islamism?
“There are governments and then there are citizens.” European and Western governments do not know how to deal with the Muslim world, they are undecided. They support Israel and also seek an agreement with countries like Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: The Abraham Accords are important from an economic and political perspective. Citizens themselves are divided between opposition to Islamism and the resurgence of an anti-Semitism that has never gone away. In France, the right is generally on the side of Israel and the Jews, but on the left there is support for the Palestinian cause that borders on anti-Semitism. They always hated Israel.”
Since the beginning of the crisis, President Macron has feared that the conflict could reach France, which is why he traveled to Israel and the West Bank to establish a clear separation between the Hamas terrorists, to be fought with an international coalition, and the Hamas terrorist rights the Palestinians. What do you think of this initiative?
“I think this is completely irrelevant, no one believes this attempt. You have to find the courage to choose which side you want to be on.”
Are France and Europe not doing this enough?
“There is enormous tension in France. Let’s not forget that a teacher in his high school was killed by an Islamic terrorist. Governments are concerned with the Muslim population within them. Israel and the Jews are in danger of being abandoned by everyone.”