French footballer Nicolas Anelka's Nazi salute causes outrage in Israel

     

French footballer Nicolas Anelka's use of an "anti-Semitic" salute during a weekend goal celebration in England has sparked a furious reaction in Israel.


Politicians and newspaper commentators alike saw it as a new sign of rising anti-Semitism in Europe.
Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke on Facebook of the "problematic situation in Europe toward Jews and the state of Israel," after Anelka gave the controversial salute in Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw between West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.

Anelka has agreed not to perform the celebration again, at the request of his club West Brom, and has denied he intended to cause offence.
Invented by French stand-up comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala and imitated by his many fans, the "quenelle" gesture involves putting one arm across the chest and straightening the other.
It is perceived by some as a symbol of anti-Semitic identification, although M'Bala denies it.

Israel's parliamentary committee for immigration, absorption and diaspora affairs convened for a hearing on Monday to discuss "the rise in anti-Semitism".
Parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein denounced a wave of "new anti-Semitism".
Committee chairman Yoel Razvozov warned that while Anelka defended his salute as just a gesture, "if we fail to act with resolve, it may develop into violent action".

French embassy first secretary Zachary Gross assured members of the committee of his government's commitment to the safety of Jews in France.
Various estimates put the size of France's Jewish community at 350,000-500,000, making it the largest in Europe.
Columnist Ben Dror Yemini warned in the Maariv newspaper: "Dieudonne is not a joke. Far from it."
He called the comedian "the tip of the iceberg," adding: "So long as the industry of lies (against Israel and Jews) continues to flourish, Dieudonne and his followers will continue to bloom."

Natan Sharansky, who heads the Jewish Agency - the body in charge of Jewish immigration to Israel - told public radio it was "our duty to strengthen ties with the Jews of France".
But he refused to use the perceived rise in anti-Semitism in France as a spur to immigration to Israel.
"Anti-Semitism is no ally of Zionism," he said.

More than 3,000 Jews from France emigrated to Israel in 2013, a 63 per cent rise compared to 2012.