PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a strong condemnation of antisemitism following an assault on Rabbi Arié Engelberg, the chief rabbi of Orleans, which authorities are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.

The attack occurred on Saturday evening as Rabbi Engelberg was walking with his young son in the city center of Orleans.

Reports indicate that the assailant directed antisemitic insults at the rabbi prior to the physical attack.

In a statement posted on X, Macron expressed his shock at the incident, offering support to the rabbi, his family, and the Jewish community at large.

"The attack on Rabbi Arié Engelberg in Orléans shocks us all.

I offer him, his son, and all our fellow citizens of the Jewish faith my full support and that of the nation … We will not give in to silence or inaction," he wrote.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that the suspect was arrested shortly after the attack and has since been transferred to a psychiatric facility.

Darmanin communicated his condemnation of the assault, stating, "I condemn with the greatest firmness the antisemitic attack of the Chief Rabbi of Orléans.

He has all my support."

Further addressing the broader issue of antisemitism in France, Darmanin remarked, "France cannot allow itself to become a stage for foreign tensions that fuel violence and antisemitism."

Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), reacted strongly against minimizing antisemitism, asserting on X, "No, anti-Semitism is not 'residual.' Those who minimize, relativize, or justify hatred of Jews by a conflict 4,000 km away bear an immense responsibility."

Local media reports indicate that while Rabbi Engelberg was not seriously harmed, he was left shaken by the experience.

Orleans’ mayor, Serge Grouard, characterized the assault as a “heinous and intolerable act,” branding it a serious violation of the republic’s values.

France is home to the largest Jewish population in Western Europe, estimated at around 500,000 individuals, which represents approximately 1% of the national population.

This community is the third-largest globally, following those in Israel and the United States.

Due to its prominent Jewish community, France has frequently experienced spikes in antisemitism, particularly during periods of heightened international tension.

Antisemitic incidents in France have escalated in recent years, with a notable surge recorded in 2023 following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7. This increase includes a range of actions such as physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and harassment, raising concerns among Jewish community leaders.

Recent figures from the French Interior Ministry reveal that 1,570 antisemitic acts were documented in 2024, comprising 62% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in France.

While this marks a 6% decrease from the previous year, the ministry highlighted that 65% of these acts directly targeted individuals, contrasting with anti-religious incidents involving other faiths, which primarily affect property.

Additionally, the report noted a 3% rise in physical or personal assaults year over year.