Politics

The images of the crimes committed on October 7 provoked not only understandable shock, but also much debate: was it necessary to show the horror that Hamas terrorists sought to film and broadcast? Emmanuel Taïeb examines the fate of these images and the political uses to which they have been put, highlighting their reversibility and the risk of making them invisible.

On the occasion of the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the 2015 attacks, and the evening organized jointly by the CRIF and Charlie Hebdo, Bruno Karsenti questions the meaning of this alliance under the slogan “We are the Republic”. For if Jews have embraced the modern political condition, it is according to a critical modality that carries with it a certain understanding of the Republic.

For the first issue of 2025, we invite you to read or re-read the 7 most popular articles of the past year.   The Eternal Settler Benjamin Wexler – Published…

In contemporary academic settings, shaming has become a powerful tool for shaping ethical debates, particularly on polarizing topics like Zionism and Israel. On many campuses, any form of support for Israel is deemed inherently shameful. This article examines the rise of “shaming” as a tactic in academia, questioning its legitimacy and exploring the ethical boundaries of such practices within universities. Ariel Colonomos reflects on how shame, far from fostering critical dialogue, risks undermining the core mission of academia: open debate and intellectual inquiry.

How can we explain the disarray of the European conscience in the face of the rise of antisemitism it promised itself it would “never again” tolerate? In this text, historians Henriette Asséo and Claudia Moatti examine the paradoxes of a Europe faced with the temptation of identity.

What explains the political wandering of some Jews, who seem to be sliding irresistibly to the right? Katie Ebner-Landy proposes here three paradoxes, which she proposes will have to be fought against to reassure left-wing Jews.

Could the Jewish world, which is currently undergoing a process of division, go as far as an internecine war? For Bruno Karsenti, the possible election of Donald Trump to the American presidency could complete the rupture. It would make it impossible to ignore the gulf that now separates the “Jews committed to force” from the “Jews committed to law and rights”.

In a nation still reckoning with the shadows of its past, Germany’s response to antisemitism today is layered with complexity and urgency. Recent measures, from appointing antisemitism commissioners to intensifying security for Jewish communities, aim to confront a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents—yet they also expose the delicate tension between genuine protection and political maneuvering. Part two of Monty Ott’s report, presented in partnership with DILCRAH, dives into Germany’s fraught battle against antisemitism, revealing not only the strides taken but also the ethical and societal questions that linger unanswered.

Continuing our investigation, in partnership with DILCRAH, into the state of antisemitism across Europe, this week Monty Ott examines Germany’s ongoing battle against antisemitism, blending historical context with urgent contemporary issues. Using Adorno’s philosophy as a framework, Ott explores the role of state power in countering rising antisemitic violence, especially in the wake of Hamas’ October 2023 attacks. He tackles the complexities of this fight, from political controversies to social resistance, raising critical questions about Germany’s responsibility. It begs the question – can state action, civil society, or a combination of both truly confront the deep-rooted issue of antisemitism?