French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has called for heightened security around Jewish places of worship and religious gatherings ahead of the Jewish High Holy Days, urging prefects across the country to maintain “extreme vigilance”.
In a letter sent to prefects, Nuñez called for increased security measures around synagogues and other Jewish religious sites, particularly during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. He also urged local authorities to coordinate with municipal officials and Jewish community representatives to strengthen security arrangements.
The measures include deploying municipal police and video surveillance, increasing security forces at the arrival and departure times of worshippers, and conducting patrols and surveillance during religious services and gatherings. Particularly sensitive sites will receive additional resources in coordination with Operation Sentinelle, the military counter-terrorism operation established following the 2015 attacks.
The call comes amid persistently high levels of antisemitism in France. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 1,320 antisemitic incidents were recorded in 2025, accounting for 53% of all recorded anti-religious offences. Although incidents fell by 18% during the first half of 2026, authorities recorded a spike in March amid heightened tensions linked to developments in the Middle East.
Rosh Hashanah will be observed from 11 to 13 September, followed by Yom Kippur from 20 to 21 September and Sukkot from 25 September to 2 October. The French government has stressed that protecting Jewish citizens and combating antisemitism remain a priority requiring sustained mobilisation and a firm response from the state.
