ARIEL SHARON'S CALL FOR JEWISH EMIGRATION FROM FRANCE

EDM number 1555 in 2003-04, proposed by Richard Burden on 20/07/2004.

That this House is appalled by Ariel Sharon's call on French Jews to emigrate to Israel to escape what he described as the 'wildest anti-semitism'; notes that the Guardian on 20th July quoted Patrick Klugman, deputy president of SOS-Racisme and a former head of the Jewish students union, as responding that 'France is not an anti-semitic nation and Mr Sharon is simply settling scores with France through the question of anti-semitism'; believes that anyone who uses allegations of anti-semitism or other forms of racism to further their own political agendas cheapens themselves, threatens community cohesion and undermines the efforts of those genuinely warning of the dangers of such racism; condemns the anti-semitic, Islamophobic and other racist attacks that have taken place both in the UK and elsewhere in Europe; and re-affirms support for Early Day Motion 123 entitled 'Combating Anti-Semitism' tabled by the honourable Member for Ilford North on 26th November 2003 which calls on both the UK Government and the international community to institute a zero tolerance policy to combat racism in all its forms.

This motion has been signed by a total of 47 MPs.