France today is not the France of the Vichy Regime. Rising anti-Semitism in Europe and the United States is very troubling, including in France. The thought that French people were murdered for being Jewish is impossible to bear, and incidents of violence and anti-Semitic hate speech in the streets and on social media must not be tolerated. But can we conclude from this that the French government hates Jews? Certainly not.

Five hundred thousand of France's citizens are members of the Jewish faith, who make up the largest Jewish community in Europe. Every anti-Semitic display is a heavy blow to the freedom of French citizens. The French government is taking action: Holocaust education and the struggle against anti-Semitism are at the top of the agenda in schools; enforcement measures – including arrests, prosecutions and other punitive measures – have been bolstered against perpetrators of anti-Semitic offenses and crimes; Holocaust deniers are behind bars in French prisons. What other country locks people up for this offense? The struggle against anti-Semitism also includes efforts against hate speech on social media networks: A few months ago, for the first time in France's history, the courts ordered access to internet sites with racist and anti-Semitic content blocked and several radical associations were broken up. In addition, law enforcement and hundreds of soldiers secure over 800 Jewish sites.

Can one determine that France teems with hatred for Israel? No. Seven hundred thousand Israeli tourists visit the country every year, which welcomes them with open arms. President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear on several occasions that we will not be forgiving toward those who camouflage their ancient anti-Semitism as opposition to Israel, including those who promote the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Some advocates of the movement to boycott Israel have even been convicted. Ties between France and Israel are very close, and bilateral cooperation is extensive. In 2018, both countries celebrated the joint "Israel-France Season," a series of hundreds of events attended and viewed by hundreds of thousands of people in both countries. Thanks to agreements signed under the auspices of the EU, Israel enjoys prioritized access to the European market and even participates in European programs in the fields of research and science. We also have close cooperation in the field of security. Israel can always count on France's support in the face of threats and attacks from terrorist organizations, such as those we recently witnessed from the Gaza Strip.

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Seventy years ago, nearly to the day – on Jan. 24, 1949 – then-Foreign Minister of France Robert Schuman recognized the state of Israel and its de facto government.

My country quickly proved how devoted it was to defending the young state, and stood beside it with determination in the days when its security was under serious threat. Later, Franco-Israeli relations continued to develop and Israel formed additional diplomatic ties, but the relations between us have never been anything but strong, because French and Israeli society share values and cultural affiliations.

The Jewish community in France – the largest in Europe, and the third-largest in the world – as well as the French citizens living in Israel (there are many of them, and their numbers are increasing), play a large part in that, of course. President Rivlin's upcoming visit to Paris is an opportunity to celebrate our brave ties and the values that unite us.

The visit will also provide an opportunity for us to restate our boundless commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and to commemorate the Holocaust, which is taught three times in the French curriculum, as well as our commitment to promoting a model of secularism in the French Republic.

The visit will center on the two countries' excellent cooperation in the field of security and defense and their fight against terrorism. I am certain of our relations today and our relations in the future.

During a season of Israeli-Franco cultural events which was held simultaneously in both countries in 2018, more than 400,000 Israelis took part in 120 French events held in Israel, and 500,000 French took part in the Israeli events in France.

What exciting proof of the Israeli public's affection for France. What proof of the two nations' dynamic cooperation in arts, academia, science, and technology.

Seventy years after Robert Schuman's historic decision, both countries can look ahead with determination and co-author a new chapter in their shared history.

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