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Paris, France - Government to Monitor Media and Blogs for Gaza Hate Messages

Published on:   Jan 16, 2009 at 12:37 PM
News Source: Reuters
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Prime Minister Francois Fillon
Prime Minister Francois Fillon (edit)
Paris, France - French authorities will increase their checks on television, radio and the Internet to prevent any hate messages prompted by the conflict in Gaza from spreading, Prime Minister Francois Fillon said today.

France is experiencing an increase in anti-Semitic acts apparently related to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians in three weeks. Thirteen Israelis have been killed.

"Even a cursory look at the Internet is enough to find blogs ... carrying messages of incredible violence, whether against Israel or against the Palestinians," Fillon said after a meeting with ministers on fighting racism and anti-Semitism.

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He said he had asked the CSA, the broadcast authority, and an expert on issues of freedom of expression on the Internet to conduct more thorough checks on what was being published.

Fillon also said the justice and security systems were primed to take vigorous action against any perpetrators of hate crimes related to Gaza.

France has the biggest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe and it is not the first time that violence in the Middle East has translated into a wave of anti-Semitic acts in France.

"We're not in Israel, we're not in Palestine, we're in France. And in France there are no communities because we're all citizens equal before the law," Fillon said.

He said police would boost security at pro-Palestinian demonstrations this weekend. Previous marches were marred by skirmishes between protesters and police, and cars were torched.

President Nicolas Sarkozy and other officials, including religious leaders, have appealed for calm.

But almost every day brings news of another attack on a synagogue, a rash of xenophobic graffiti or, in some cases, violence against people. Police are investigating allegations that radical pro-Israel youths beat up three Arab teenagers on Monday outside their school in a rich area of Paris.


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