Paris Shock: Jewish Sites Splattered With Green Paint Over Shabbat

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:

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.

Rising Antisemitism in France

France, home to approximately 440,000 Jews, one of the world’s largest Jewish communities, has seen a dramatic surge in antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.

According to the French Interior Ministry and the Jewish Community Protection Service, 1,676 antisemitic acts were reported in 2023, a sharp rise from 436 in 2022, with 74% occurring after October 7. While overall incidents declined in 2024, physical assaults driven by antisemitism increased from 85 in 2023 to 106 in 2024 so far.

Notable prior incidents include:

The Jewish Agency reported a 400% increase in aliyah (immigration to Israel) inquiries from France since the war’s onset, with 38% of French Jews, approximately 200,000 people, considering emigration due to rising antisemitism.