French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his outrage after a memorial tree for Ilan Halimi, a Jewish man who was brutally murdered in 2006, was cut down. The olive tree, which had stood for 14 years in Épinay-sur-Seine, served as a symbol of remembrance for Halimi’s tragic death, which had shocked the nation. Macron condemned the act as “an attempt to kill him a second time” and reaffirmed that all efforts would be made to find and punish those responsible.
Paris police authorities have confirmed that an investigation is in progress, with Police Chief Laurent Nuñez assuring the public that every resource will be utilized to identify and prosecute the offenders. Halimi's body was discovered mutilated and burned after being held captive for over three weeks by a gang targeting him due to his Jewish heritage.
The tree was one of several memorials across Paris dedicated to Halimi, whose murder ignited a nationwide outcry against antisemitism. Local officials reported finding the tree felled on Thursday, with images showing it severed at the base and discarded nearby. Macron emphasized that France will not forget Halimi, stating, "In the face of antisemitism, the Republic is always uncompromising.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou likewise attributed the vandalism to "antisemitic hatred," highlighting the ongoing obligation to combat such hatred and ensure that memory endures. Past incidents have raised alarms; in 2019, another tree honoring Halimi was also vandalized, and similar acts of desecration have occurred on memorials commemorating him. The monument's destruction is a stark reminder of the persistent struggle against antisemitism in France.
