Toulouse/Jewish school shooting/commemoration
Toulouse, November 2, 2012
Mr Prime Minister of Israel,
This is an exceptional moment for us, because a tragedy occurred here which was, itself, exceptional.
We are joined by the ministers of the French government, the representatives of the State of Israel, our ambassadors, the representatives of the Jewish community here in Toulouse but also in France, locally elected representatives, the Mayor of Toulouse and members of parliament. All those who contribute to the public spirit.
We are together because seven-and-a-half months ago, here, in front of this school, a terrorist as brutal as he was cowardly killed Jonathan Sandler, 30, his two children Arieh and Gabriel, as well as Myriam Monsonego, the headmaster’s daughter, and seriously injured a 16-year-old boy, Aaron Bijaoui.
That was on 19 March 2012. France was terror-stricken by this tragedy. I came to Toulouse that day to express my sympathy. I can still see the distraught faces, contorted with grief, of the headmaster and his wife. I remember the parents who welcomed me, torn between dignity – which had to be the only way to respond to the barbarity – and, at the same time, concern about who, how, why… I can still hear the cries and tears, I also remember the courage of those parents, those pupils. I have never forgotten them and I will never forget them.
Today, I return as President of the Republic to the same buildings, to this school, your school, to remember the victims and share the grief of the families with the Prime Minister of Israel.
These children of France now rest in Jerusalem. Our two countries, our two peoples, join in remembering them.
Prime Minister, you represent a country created in the aftermath of the Holocaust to serve as a haven for the Jews. That’s why whenever a Jew is targeted for being Jewish, Israel is concerned. That is the meaning of your presence here. I understand it, I applaud it, and I welcome you.
As I stand before you – families, representatives, elected officials, you, Prime Minister – I also want to reiterate the French Republic’s determination to tirelessly combat anti-Semitism.
Every manifestation of it – actions as well as words – will be fought against.
It will be rooted out everywhere, including from the causes it hides behind, which provide it with a pretext or a mask.
Anti-Semitism will be hunted down by all possible means wherever it spreads, particularly on social networks where hatred is cloaked in anonymity.
The Jews of France must know that the Republic is doing everything to protect them. Guaranteeing their security is a national cause. It is not just a Jewish issue, but one that concerns all French people. For schools, this guarantee will have to be a priority, because no child should be afraid of going to class, no parents should be afraid of letting their children leave for school.
Before this ceremony, a child questioned me, asking: how much longer will police officers be present at the school gates? I replied: as long as necessary. And as many as requested. And throughout France, wherever there’s a threat, wherever there’s a risk.
But the aim of the Republic is for police officers never again to have to stand in front of schools.
My country is ruthless when it comes to terrorism.
Its honour depends on conducting this battle without ever renouncing its principles.
The tragedy in Toulouse revealed certain flaws in the organization of our intelligence. A report was commissioned by the Interior Ministry. It has now been drawn up and the full circumstances of what happened will be elucidated. I once again pledge to you, the families, the French people, that the entire truth will come to light. We must learn every lesson from this tragedy and break as soon as possible the mechanisms that lead to terrorism.
That is why our government has just introduced a bill that expands our means of action. We will be uncompromising with those who are shown to frequent certain places influenced by the worst ideologies of hate. All our services are and will remain mobilized to intervene.
But it is our unity that is our principal strength.
It was unity, transcending our differences, that led us to come together on 19 March, regardless of our political leanings. We were right in the middle of the presidential campaign, and all families were aware that the entire, stricken Republic had mobilized; that people of all religions, all beliefs, and all political leanings were standing together to offer solidarity to the families and forcefully condemn terrorism.
Today, once again, we must stand united to fight fanaticism and reject any conflation. Radical Islam is not Islam. And we must ensure that everyone in the Republic is protected, regardless of origin, belief or religion. This freedom of conscience is guaranteed by the secularism (laïcité) (1) underpinning our Republic.
Terrorism concerns all French people, because the individual who murdered Jews in this school had deliberately fired on three soldiers a few days earlier.
I want to name them at this ceremony: Imad Ibn-Ziaten, Abel Chennouf, Mohamed Legouad. Three men who had chosen to serve their homeland and who fell because they were wearing the uniform of our army.
Prime Minister, we are here side by side because our two peoples stand united and in solidarity in the face of this tragedy.
We are here together because, with this ceremony, we want to pay tribute to the victims, to all the victims of anti-Semitism, racism and terrorism.
We are here together at this school to express a simple message that must be heard beyond us, beyond this place: life is stronger than everything and yields before no threat, no ordeal, no tragedy. The parents here today demonstrate this. They have confidence in their school, they have remained, and they have confidence in France.
I also want to note how the parents of the victims who spoke out showed strength, courage and dignity; how they set an example. We will remember their words, which offer so many lessons in human behaviour. What a wonderful demonstration of humanity after the deep wound you have suffered!
1 November in France is the day we celebrate the dead. 1 November will also be synonymous with our gathering here at this school, Ohr Torah, which is a symbol: a symbol of suffering, inconsolable suffering, but at the same time, a symbol of hope, of unwavering hope. It is this suffering that will lead us to act yet again with strength and vigilance, and it is this hope that France will be worthy of, with you, in the years to come.
Thank you./.
(1) laïcité goes beyond the concept of secularism, embracing the strict neutrality of the state.