Kushner to Macron: Stop the hate before it’s too late

In a strongly worded open letter published Sunday in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner called on President Emmanuel Macron to take urgent and concrete action against the rise of antisemitism in France.

The letter, published on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Allied Liberation of Paris, expresses Kushner’s deep concern about growing hostility toward Jewish communities and the French government’s perceived inaction.

He links the surge in antisemitic acts to the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, describing how pro-Hamas extremists have escalated violence and intimidation across Europe — with France being one of the most affected countries.

“Not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized,” Kushner wrote, citing reports from France’s own Interior Ministry that antisemitic incidents are now even occurring in preschools.

Kushner directly criticized public statements attacking Israel and gestures toward Palestinian state recognition, arguing they "embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France." He drew a firm line, stating: "In today’s world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism—plain and simple."

In comparing approaches, Kushner highlighted former President Donald Trump’s efforts in the U.S. to combat antisemitism through expanded civil rights enforcement, stricter immigration policies, and pressure on Iran. These, he argued, proved that "antisemitism can be fought effectively when leaders have the will to act."

He warned that many French Jews now fear history is repeating itself, pointing to a disturbing statistic: nearly half of French youth have never heard of the Holocaust. "What are children being taught in French schools if such ignorance persists?" he asked.

Concluding with a call to action, Kushner urged Macron to enforce hate-crime laws uniformly, protect Jewish institutions, prosecute offenders, and distance France from entities aligned with Hamas. 

He also offered U.S. support to create a robust, cross-society plan to root out antisemitism in France.

“As U.S. ambassador to France, I stand ready to work with you,” Kushner wrote.