Red paint and slogans were daubed at the entry to the offices of the Israeli national airline El Al in Paris, with Israel urging French authorities to take action over the "barbaric act" on Thursday, August 7. Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans and inscriptions, including "Free Palestine" and "El Al Genocide Airline," were written on the entrance, which was also daubed with red paint as well as the pavement overnight Wednesday to Thursday.
"I condemn the barbaric and violent act against El Al and expect the law enforcement authorities in France to locate the criminals and take strong action against them," Israel's Transport Minister Miri Regev wrote on X. She said the act was the result of announcements by President Emmanuel Macron that "make gifts to" Palestinian militant group Hamas, in apparent reference to his announcement last month that France plans to recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel's ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, visited the scene, describing the vandalism as an "act of terrorism" that aims to "terrorize El Al employees, terrorize Israeli citizens, scare them and try to make them feel that they are not welcome."
According to El Al, quoted by Israeli TV channel N12, "the incident occurred while the building was empty and there was no danger to the company's employees." "El Al proudly displays the Israeli flag on the tail of its aircraft and condemns all forms of violence, particularly those based on anti-Semitism," the national airline added.
In early June, several Jewish sites in Paris were sprayed with green paint. Three Serbs were charged and placed under arrest and are suspected by investigators of acting to serve the interests of a foreign power, possibly Russia.