POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF A JEWISH CONSULATE RAISES CONTROVERSY
Israel’s announcement of the closure of the Jewish consulate in Marseille, France due to budget constraints has raised protest. Marseille, which is the second largest city in France, has a Jewish population of over 70,000. They have the third largest Jewish community in Europe, only after London and Paris. However, the consulate serves over 150,000 Jews in 26 French counties. Closing this consulate would force these people to travel over 800 kilometers to the Jewish consulates in Paris or Brussels.
However, closing this consulate also points to deeper problems. It displays the rising anti-Semitism in Europe. Violence against Jews has been increasing in Europe. The consulate in Marseille has provided a meeting place for Jews after such incidents. This also raises fear that other consulates in Marseille may close. According to Hagay Sobol, a member of the Marseille city council,, “It is not a stretch to fear that, should Israel decide to leave, other countries might follow suit and decide, in turn, to close down their consulates in Marseille.”
The Jewish consulate in Marseille was slated to close in both 2002 and 2009, but it was saved at the last minutes. The Jewish community in Marseille has made efforts to make their voices heard through online petitions. They hope to prevent the possible closing of the consulate for the third time.
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