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Netanyahu in Paris to commemorate Vel d'Hiv deportation of Jews | Netanyahu in Paris to commemorate Vel d'Hiv deportation of Jews |
(35 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Paris to commemorate the victims of a mass arrest of Jews in Nazi-occupied France in 1942. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Paris to commemorate the victims of a mass arrest of Jews in Nazi-occupied France in 1942. |
More than 13,000 Jews were rounded up and detained at a cycling stadium, the Velodrome d'Hiver, before being deported to Nazi death camps. | More than 13,000 Jews were rounded up and detained at a cycling stadium, the Velodrome d'Hiver, before being deported to Nazi death camps. |
Mr Netanyahu will also hold direct talks for the first time with French President Emmanuel Macron. | Mr Netanyahu will also hold direct talks for the first time with French President Emmanuel Macron. |
He is the first Israeli prime minister to attend the Vel d'Hiv commemorations. | He is the first Israeli prime minister to attend the Vel d'Hiv commemorations. |
"I'm here to mourn the victims," Mr Netanyahu told an audience in Paris, which included Jewish group sand Holocaust survivors. | "I'm here to mourn the victims," Mr Netanyahu told an audience in Paris, which included Jewish group sand Holocaust survivors. |
"Seventy-five years ago, a heavy darkness descended on this city... It seems the values of the French revolution - equality, fraternity, liberty - was crushed brutally under the boot of anti-Semitism." | "Seventy-five years ago, a heavy darkness descended on this city... It seems the values of the French revolution - equality, fraternity, liberty - was crushed brutally under the boot of anti-Semitism." |
While warning against the dangers of modern extremism, he hailed the "great, great human beings" who had risked their lives to save Jews in France during Nazi occupation. | While warning against the dangers of modern extremism, he hailed the "great, great human beings" who had risked their lives to save Jews in France during Nazi occupation. |
Out of the more than 13,000 Jews arrested by French police on 16 and 17 July 1942, about 4,000 were children. | Out of the more than 13,000 Jews arrested by French police on 16 and 17 July 1942, about 4,000 were children. |
The families were taken to the Velodrome D'Hiver, a cycling stadium near the Eiffel Tower, or an internment camp set up just outside the capital at Drancy. | The families were taken to the Velodrome D'Hiver, a cycling stadium near the Eiffel Tower, or an internment camp set up just outside the capital at Drancy. |
They were then deported by train, mostly to Auschwitz concentration camp. Fewer than 100 people survived. | They were then deported by train, mostly to Auschwitz concentration camp. Fewer than 100 people survived. |
The episode remains controversial in France. Marine Le Pen, Mr Macron's far-right opponent in this year's election, drew strong criticism on 9 April when she suggested France was not responsible for the tragedy. | The episode remains controversial in France. Marine Le Pen, Mr Macron's far-right opponent in this year's election, drew strong criticism on 9 April when she suggested France was not responsible for the tragedy. |
But speaking at the ceremony on Sunday, President Macron reaffirmed that "it was France that organised" the mass arrest. | |
The visit has drawn consternation from critics of the Israeli PM. | The visit has drawn consternation from critics of the Israeli PM. |
Some in France have criticised Mr Netanyahu's attendance at the commemoration ceremony arguing it was becoming too politicised. | Some in France have criticised Mr Netanyahu's attendance at the commemoration ceremony arguing it was becoming too politicised. |
Elie Barnavi, a former Israeli ambassador to France, told AFP news agency: "The presence of Netanyahu makes me a little uneasy. | |
"This story has nothing to do with Israel." | "This story has nothing to do with Israel." |
The Union of French Jews for Peace (UJFP), a pro-Palestinian organisation, described the decision to invite Mr Netanyahu as "shocking" and "unacceptable". | The Union of French Jews for Peace (UJFP), a pro-Palestinian organisation, described the decision to invite Mr Netanyahu as "shocking" and "unacceptable". |
However, France's best-known association of Jewish groups, CRIF, took part in the event. | However, France's best-known association of Jewish groups, CRIF, took part in the event. |
Mr Netanyahu's last official visit to France was to attend the unity march following the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police officers, and a kosher supermarket in January 2015. | |
After Sunday's ceremony, he is to hold talks with Mr Macron, where commentators say he will be probing his French counterpart's intentions towards the Middle East peace process. | |
When Mr Macron met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Paris earlier this month, he reiterated France's support for a two-state solution and opposition to Israel's building of settlements in occupied territory. | When Mr Macron met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Paris earlier this month, he reiterated France's support for a two-state solution and opposition to Israel's building of settlements in occupied territory. |
The meeting with Mr Netanyahu comes amid concerns of another increase in violence in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. | The meeting with Mr Netanyahu comes amid concerns of another increase in violence in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. |
Two Israeli policemen were killed and a third wounded by three Israeli Arabs in a gun attack close to the compound in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif on Friday. The attackers were later killed by security forces. | Two Israeli policemen were killed and a third wounded by three Israeli Arabs in a gun attack close to the compound in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif on Friday. The attackers were later killed by security forces. |
The holy site was closed after shooting but it reopened on Sunday. |