French Rabbi Assaulted Twice in Week, Attacker Arrested in Paris Suburb

Rabbi Elie Lemmel was violently attacked twice within eight days in France, first in Deauville and then in Neuilly-sur-Seine, both incidents being investigated as antisemitic hate crimes. During the second attack, a 28-year-old Palestinian man, residing illegally in France and previously living in Germany under a temporary suspension of deportation, struck the rabbi with a chair, causing a severe head injury that required hospitalization. The suspect was detained by bystanders and later admitted to a hospital following a psychiatric evaluation. These attacks have sparked widespread condemnation from Jewish community leaders, political figures, and French authorities amid a broader surge in antisemitic violence, with over 1,570 antisemitic acts recorded in France in 2024 alone. Rabbi Lemmel expressed his shock and sorrow over the attacks, attributing them to his visible Jewish identity, while officials emphasize the need for societal mobilization to combat rising religious hatred. The incidents highlight growing concerns about security and the social impact of illegal immigration in Europe.