FRANCE must offer protection and affection to its Jewish citizens because anti-semitism is on the rise again, President Francois Hollande declared on Monday evening.

He told the prestigious annual dinner of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF): “Jews are at home in France. It’s the anti-semites that have no place in the Republic.”

Mr Hollande noted that attacks on Muslims are also on the rise in France.

The annual event was marred by the decision by Muslim leaders to boycott the dinner after attending every year since 2003, following comments by CRIF Jewish council leader Roger Cukierman associating young Muslims with violence.

The French Muslim Council denounced Mr Cukierman’s comments as unfounded, especially his use of the expression “Islamofascism.”

He explained later that he meant the authors of recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen who had “claimed allegiance” to Islam.

“Jews and Muslims, we are all in the same boat,” Mr Cukierman stressed.