For Zion's Sake...

Moroccan Jew winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics

“Serge Haroche of France and David Wineland of the United States won the Nobel Physics Prize on Tuesday for work in quantum physics that could one day open the way to supercomputers. Haroche is from a Jewish family and was born in Casablanca, Morocco in 1944. He has lectured at Israel’s Technion University.

“The two men were honored for pioneering experimental experiments in ‘measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems,’ the jury said in its citation, AFP reported.”

French Olympian swimmer, Fabien Gilot, raised his arm after winning a gold medal to reveal his tattoo - אני כלום בלעדיהם - I am nothing without them.

He explained that it was a tribute to his grandmother’s Jewish husband, Max Goldschmidt, an Auschwitz survivor and a huge influence on his life.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian spotted with Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli in Paris.

France likely to join GCC in aid to Syrian rebels

“French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Friday his country is considering providing communications equipment to Syrian rebels to encourage a ‘stronger revolt’ against President Bashar al-Assad’s government.”

The French consideration would join the nations of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), notably Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, for public calls of support against Assad. While the French seek to aid the rebels with communication equipment, the GCC member states seek to arm the rebels directly.

US holds large war drill in Middle East, Israel not invited

“Over 12,000 soldiers are taking part in the war games, representing 19 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Australia.”

No Israel.

Toulouse murderer likely a neo-Nazi, may have filmed murders

“French police suspect he is a neo-Nazi. French Interior Minister Claude Gueant revealed that the gunman was ‘wearing an apparatus around his neck’ that might have been used to film the brutal murders with the possibility of posting them online.”

French President Sarkozy vows to catch the Toulouse shooter and declares that there will be a moment of silence in all French schools tomorrow in memory.

Thousands march in Toulouse in memory of the anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish high school.

5 killed in Toulouse, France outside Jewish day school

“Four Jews, including a teacher and his two children, were killed in an early-morning shooting outside and then inside the Jewish high school that serves as the center of the 25,000-strong Jewish community of Toulouse, France. The gunman, who hopped off a motorcycle and entered the school and kept shooting, is at large. Nationwide, France has closed all streets with Jewish institutions on them.”

Sarkozy pledges to visit Israel if reelected

“French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised on Tuesday that if he is re-elected, his second foreign visit would be to Israel and to the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. AFP reported that the purpose of the visit would be to push a European peace initiative.”

Paris court closes university to prevent Israel Apartheid Week

This article from Le Monde (French only, sorry) reports that a Paris court ordered the Paris Sorbonne No. 8 university to be closed for two days to prevent Israel Apartheid Week. This occured after anti-Israel activists noted they would still hold the event by “force” in defiance of the university’s orders. The University President decided to cancel Israel Apartheid Week because of the civil disorder that could result on his campus.

Syrian shelling of Homs claims 80, including 2 Western journalists

“A French photojournalist and an American working for a British newspaper were killed Wednesday by Syrian government shelling of the opposition stronghold of Homs, France’s government said. The U.N. estimates that 5,400 people have been killed in repression by the regime of President Bashar Assad against a popular uprising that began 11 months ago. Syrian activists, however, put the death toll at more than 7,300.”

French Jews side with Sarkozy

It is common knowledge in America that the Jewish vote is the liberal Democratic vote. However in France, the opposite is true. This article provides an interesting insight into the rationale and psyche of the French Jewish voter.

Iran places embargoes on oil to UK, France firms

“Iran has stopped selling crude to British and French companies, the oil ministry said on Sunday, in a retaliatory measure against fresh EU sanctions on the Islamic state’s lifeblood, oil.”

Libyan militia accused of torturing French diplomat

“Human Rights Watch said that Omar Brebesh, a career diplomat who was cultural attache and then ambassador to France between 2004 to 2008, was brought in for routine questioning in Tripoli over his work for the former regime. His body turned up at a hospital in Zintan, the town two hours’ drive to the south-west that was a hub of last year’s revolution, beaten, bruised and with some of its toenails removed.”