In a series of antisemitic attacks, several Jewish sites in Paris were defaced with green paint overnight from May 30 to May 31, 2025, prompting outrage and heightened security measures.
The vandalism, which targeted the Shoah Memorial, three synagogues, and a kosher restaurant, has intensified concerns about rising antisemitism in France, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Details of the Attacks
The vandalism struck some of Paris’s most significant Jewish landmarks:
- Shoah Memorial: The Holocaust memorial, which honors the 76,000 Jews deported from France between 1942 and 1944, was defaced with green paint.
- Synagogues: Three synagogues were targeted, including the historic Agudas Hakehilos synagogue in the 4th arrondissement’s Marais district, the Belleville synagogue and the Synagogue des Tournelles.
- "Chez Marianne" Restaurant: A kosher restaurant in the Marais district was similarly vandalized. An open can of paint was found at the base of the facade of the restaurant.
The incidents were discovered early this morning. Surveillance footage from the Shoah Memorial captured an individual dressed in black spraying paint around 4:30 a.m. local time, and an open can of green paint was found near the restaurant. The Paris prosecutor’s office launched an investigation for “damage committed on the grounds of religion,” targeting the three synagogues, the restaurant, and the Shoah Memorial.
Official Condemnation and Response
French authorities condemned the attacks. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed “immense disgust,” noting that antisemitic acts constitute over 60% of anti-religious incidents in France. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called the vandalism “acts of intimidation” and announced that the city would file a complaint, stating, “We will not tolerate this.” With the Jewish holiday of Shavuot approaching, Retailleau ordered increased security around Jewish institutions to prevent further attacks.
The Mayor of Paris Centre, Ariel Weil, wrote on X: "After red paint, now green paint. This time, the act is more precise: Shoah Memorial, synagogues, and a 'Jewish' restaurant. After all, it’s just heritage. And it will surely save lives. We know where these 'militant' acts begin, but not where they end." Ariel Weil shared images of buildings covered in green paint.
