Around 1 am on August 20, Vincent R. had an idea. It was inspired, he explained before the Thonon-les-Bains criminal court in southeastern France on Monday, August 25, by the mountaineers who had unfurled a Palestinian flag atop a Mont-Blanc massif peak four days earlier.
He took a latex glove and a can of orange spray paint from his home. He got into a car lent to him by his mechanic, drove about 10 kilometers to Châtel, an elegant resort village in the region, then continued his journey on foot, the glove covering his right hand and the spray can hidden in his right pocket.
In this municipality, which is covered by video surveillance, he tagged eight vehicles with the words “Free Palestine.” “When you admitted to the facts during your fourth interview,” recounted François Bouriaud, the presiding judge, “you stated that this Jewish community [the Lubavitch] uses the same type of vehicles, minivans, often Japanese brands.” The investigation confirmed that only four of the targeted vehicles actually belonged to members of this Jewish community.
‘What you did is pure antisemitism’
“They were all Israeli Jews to me,” said Vincent R. at the stand, where he was on trial for “damaging another person’s property due to the victim’s actual or supposed membership in a nation or religion.”
“Didn’t you consider that they could be British Jews?” asked Bouriaud, pointing out that some cars had UK license plates.
– “No,” admitted the man in his 30s.
– “Do you distinguish between Jew and Israeli?” the judge continued.
– “To me, it’s the same thing, an Israeli is a Jew, it’s both a religion and a nation. But I admit I don’t know much about the subject.”
– “In your view, what harm was done to the victims?” asked Cédric Huissoud, representing the civil party.
– “Property damage,” he replied.
– “That’s all?” pressed the lawyer.
– “Well, yes. Because to me, ‘Free Palestine’ isn’t insulting. It’s not like I wrote ‘Death to Jews.’”
– “Do you consider the plaintiffs responsible for what’s happening in Palestine?” the lawyer continued.
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