Europe Watch

“People have claimed that we were invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists, which is totally false,” insists French President Emmanuel Macron, who maintains that the riots that have engulfed France are simply plaintive calls for better-quality schools and a higher standard of living. He has also admonished the world that “we should never mix up peaceful protesters with looters and rioters, because there are people who rightfully feel that fuel prices are going too high. It’s because of the Iran war.”

The far-left Macron was slapping back at two of his bêtes noires, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump has written: “What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!”

And Netanyahu on Tuesday said of the French: “They did not prepare in time; they simply gave up. They succumbed to the invasion of extremist Islam.” He said that the French should “fight back, do not pursue a policy of appeasement — fight against the extremists. They will devour France, they will devour Europe. I told my friend, President Trump, ‘Western civilization that is ready to fight — and that is Israel.’ We of course protect and defend ourselves, but in doing we are protecting you all.” Netanyahu also recounted that he told Macron long ago: “If we do not eliminate them here, you will have them in Paris,” adding, “and that is exactly what is happening.”

A gunman shooting from his car killed one person and at least 5 others, including a 12-year-old girl, in the Paris suburb of Trappes on Friday, in what authorities described as a racially motivated act of terrorism.

President Emmanuel Macron called it “a racist terror attack” and said the suspect’s statements suggested it was premeditated.

“These people were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion, and for no other reason,” Macron said following a meeting with officials and residents in the suburb of Trappes, west of Paris. “There is no place for this in France.”

The alleged shooter was “firing at random, wanting to cause a bloodbath” as he drove through Trappes and neighboring La Verriere, Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh told broadcaster BFMTV.

“This is probably one of the first attempted mass killings motivated by Islamophobia and racism,” Rabeh told reporters, The Associated Press reported. “This was a terrorist attack with racist, likely Islamophobic, overtones.”