Paris Office Vandalism Sparks Outrage

In a troubling incident, the front of the Paris office of Israel's national airline, El Al, was defaced with red paint and anti-Israel slogans, prompting strong reactions from officials. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot expressed condemnation, describing such actions as having no place in the Republic.

Israel's ambassador to Paris, Joshua Zarka, labeled the defacement as an attack against both the airline and the State of Israel. This act of vandalism highlights a concerning rise in hate crimes in France, following recent escalations in Israel and Palestine.

According to data released in March, there has been an 11% increase in racist, xenophobic, or antireligious crimes, though the specifics regarding attacks on different religions remain undisclosed. The Paris prosecutor's office has not provided details on the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)