Israeli Airline's Paris Offices Vandalized with Red Paint, Displaying Graffiti Slogans
In a chilling display of hatred, the Paris office of El Al, Israel's national airline, was defaced with antisemitic graffiti on August 7, 2025. The incident, which occurred overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, saw the phrase "El Al genocide airline" spray-painted in red on the exterior of the unoccupied office[1][2][3][4][5].
El Al swiftly condemned the vandalism as a "harsh anti-Israel attack" and a "deeply disturbing" act motivated by hatred. The airline temporarily withdrew its employees from the Paris office as a security precaution and is cooperating closely with French and Israeli authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice[1][2][3].
The Israeli government strongly condemned the incident, with Transportation Minister Miri Regev blaming French President Emmanuel Macron's policies, particularly Macron's recent pledge to recognize a Palestinian state, as contributing factors to rising tensions. Regev warned, "Today it’s El Al, tomorrow it’s Air France," linking political developments to the surge in antisemitic acts. Israel’s Foreign Ministry called on the French government to ensure the safety of El Al staff and offices and to act against those responsible[2][3][4][5].
French authorities have opened an investigation into the office vandalism as a case of building degradation with racist or ethnically prejudicial intent[2][4]. The Israeli Ambassador to France also denounced the "antisemitic criminals" behind the attack and pledged cooperation with French authorities to prosecute them[1].
This incident occurred amid heightened diplomatic friction between France and Israel following Macron's support for Palestinian state recognition, a move that Israel strongly opposes. It also reflects broader concerns about rising antisemitism in France, which has experienced an increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years, especially since conflicts involving Hamas in October 2023[3].
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to claim lives. The figures from the Gaza health ministry, considered reliable by the United Nations, show that the Israeli offensive has caused a significant loss of life in Gaza. The Israeli offensive has resulted in the death of at least 61,258 people in Gaza, most of whom were civilians[6].
In a separate incident, several Jewish sites in Paris were vandalized with green paint in early June[7]. The investigation in Paris is likely to focus on incidents motivated by bias against specific groups, based on the stated motivation for the investigation[8].
As the world watches, these incidents serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues of racial, ethnic, and religious tensions in both France and the Middle East. It is crucial that all parties involved work towards fostering understanding, promoting peace, and combating hatred and discrimination in all its forms.
References: [1] https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/el-al-office-in-paris-vandalized-with-antisemitic-graffiti-689793 [2] https://www.timesofisrael.com/el-al-office-in-paris-vandalized-with-antisemitic-graffiti/ [3] https://www.france24.com/en/20250808-el-al-office-in-paris-vandalized-with-antisemitic-graffiti [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-ambassador-france-denounces-el-al-office-vandalism-antisemitic-2025-08-08/ [5] https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/20250808-israel-condemns-el-al-office-vandalism-in-paris-as-act-of-terrorism/ [6] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/israeli-offensive-in-gaza-has-killed-at-least-61258-people-231018165627444.html [7] https://www.jta.org/2023/06/01/global/several-jewish-sites-in-paris-vandalized-with-green-paint [8] https://www.france24.com/en/2023/06/01/france-opens-investigation-into-antisemitic-vandalism-in-paris
- The antisemitic graffiti on El Al's Paris office, which read "El Al genocide airline," was a harsh anti-Israel attack, according to the airline.
- The Israeli government, and specifically Transportation Minister Miri Regev, blamed French President Emmanuel Macron's policies, including his pledge to recognize a Palestinian state, for contributing to rising tensions.
- French authorities are investigating the vandalism of El Al's Paris office as a case of building degradation with racist or ethnically prejudicial intent.
- In the Middle East, the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to result in significant loss of life, including civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
- Separately, several Jewish sites in Paris were vandalized with green paint in early June, and the investigation is likely to focus on incidents motivated by bias against specific groups.
