Last week, The Jerusalem Post’s studio manager Shifra Jacobs interviewed Shannon Seban, president of the Renaissance Party in Seine-Saint-Denis and city council member for Rosy-sous-Bois in Paris. Born and raised in France, Seban’s role focuses on combating discrimination and promoting Laïcité - the French concept of secularism.
What is Laïcité?
Laïcité refers to the separation of church and state, a principle dating back to 1905, ensuring every French citizen's right to practice religion or not. While forms of secularism exist in other countries, such as the US, Seban noted that Laïcité is unique to France and holds crucial national and international significance.
Becoming active in politics from a young age, Seban shared that her political commitment was driven by a desire to serve others and create positive change for the common good.
Her passion for laïcité in particular is deeply tied to her fight against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and is shaped by her background as a French Jew with Algerian and Moroccan heritage. Raised in an environment where tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding were normal and expected, Seban said this is what motivated her to commit to politics - to uphold these values through her work.
Personal experiences and fight against antisemitism
Seban has personally faced antisemitism from both the far-left and far-right. Contrary to the common belief that only the far-left propagates antisemitism, she said that it occurs on both sides. She recounted an incident involving a far-right extremist, in which she was targeted online by a Neo-Nazi activist living in Japan, who used hateful, antisemitic language.
The man wrote that her “Jewish nose was a threat to the world” and that “she needed to do something about it.” Seban filed a complaint and is waiting for the result of the trial. The man was detained more than 20 times but can’t be jailed in France because there’s no agreement between France and Japan.
On another occasion, during her parliamentary campaign in June 2024, Seban was called a “dirty Zionist” and falsely accused of supporting genocide.
“They deemed that because I was Jewish, that means that I am a Zionist, and a dirty Zionist who was supporting genocide. This is what they told me - that I was a killer of babies and so on.”
France’s tense climate and rising antisemitism
These alarming incidents reflect a troubling and growing crisis in France and worldwide, said Seban, where anti-Zionism has morphed into a new form of antisemitism, fueling calls to boycott Jewish and Israeli artists, intellectuals, and academics just because they are Israeli or Jewish.
Seban strongly condemned the boycotts, calling them “stupid” and counterproductive. Most of these people are promoting peace through art, culture, innovation, and economy, she said. They are not nurturing hate.
Why should Jewish or Israeli individuals be held responsible for the political decisions made by Netanyahu and other political leaders, she argued, calling this conflation “particularly unfair.”
Reflecting on Jewish history, Jacobs noted, we are seeing troubling patterns of antisemitism now in 2025 that echo those of the past. Indeed, Seban warned of alarming parallels nowadays to past fascist ideologies and the Holocaust.
The situation in France and Europe since October 2023 is especially "preoccupying," said Seban, as antisemitism has become normalized or even fashionable, especially among some far-left political leaders in France.
The area she represents is predominantly composed of far-left constituents, said Seban. She has closely observed their dynamics, particularly in the months leading up to the 2026 municipal elections, especially regarding their stance on the international conflict.
These leaders are exploiting anti-Zionism to promote antisemitism and manipulate voters, creating division within French society, she warned.
“Of course, we can definitely act for a cause and support Palestinian people. This is legitimate… but when you use the Palestinian cause in order to gain voters among a certain part of the population, this is unfair, and this is about manipulation.”
“This is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable,” she added. “I will keep fighting against this, especially in the department and in the area where I am elected.”
The Reality for Jews in France and Europe
Asked about the reality of living as a Jew in France, Seban acknowledged the growing concerns among French Jews regarding their safety and future, citing the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents from around 436 in 2022 to over 1,570 in 2024.
“This means that October 7 changed everything,” she said, highlighting the fear that many French Jews now face on a daily basis.
Many no longer disclose their names or identities when using services like Uber, hide their mezuzot, and worry about where to send their kids to school.
Seban finds the situation very upsetting, especially given the ties between French history and Jewish people, which she says are strong and indisputable. “We need to protect this link and make it even stronger, especially now,” she stressed.
Yet, she reminded the listeners that the rise of antisemitism is not only occurring in France or in Europe. It is a global issue, where incidents occur even in New York and on university campuses worldwide.
While Seban understands why some French Jews consider leaving, she believes that fleeing is not the solution. Instead, it is about education and shaping the mindset of future generations; schools and university campuses must not become refuges for hate.
Recognizing that this is easier said than done, Seban referenced her personal motto: “When it’s difficult, you have to fight. It’s when it’s difficult that you have to stay.”
“I know it’s difficult, but there is still room for hope.”
Fighting extremism and combating antisemitism
Unfortunately, today, in a world becoming increasingly rife with extremism, moderation is often not seen as possible, said Seban. But we need to fight against extremism, she stressed, and confront antisemitism on both sides of the political spectrum. Remaining silent in the face of hatred, she added, is “very telling” and a form of complicity.
Seban also stressed the importance of uniting against all forms of racism and discrimination, affirming her solidarity not only with Jews but also Muslims, Christians, and all marginalized groups to foster collective coexistence - and advocates for them on a daily basis.
“For her as a Jew,” she said, "she can’t stand alongside Jewish people fighting antisemitism if she isn’t also fighting any kind of racism or discrimination.”
“We should all stand together, whatever our religion is, whatever our political belief is, against antisemitism, as you need to stand against any kind of racism and discrimination.”
“This is really important,” she stressed, and part of a “collective fight to live better together.”
Jacobs points out that while many people would be angry and spiteful under these circumstances, Seban’s approach highlights a different and more productive way of addressing hatred. She believes that more people should follow this approach and that we don’t see this enough, especially in politics.
Combating hate speech online
One of today’s biggest challenges in combating antisemitism is the rapid spread of hatred online, pointed out Jacobs, highlighting the alarming ease with which hateful content circulates anonymously on digital platforms. The ability to hide behind a screen without revealing one’s identity, coupled with poor online regulation, makes it far easier to incite and fuel hatred, she added.
This phenomenon fosters an evolving society where hating others has become normal, agreed Seban, warning that this unchecked rise in online hate and lack of regulation in social media pose significant risks to young people and society as a whole.
While acknowledging the benefits of social media and technology, Seban emphasized the urgent need to address this challenge, urging for stricter and more rigorous enforcement against hate speech online.
She underscored the “huge responsibility” that social media and digital platforms have in preventing incitement, removing hateful content, and penalizing offenders accordingly “with a fine if needed.”
How to enforce change: education and justice
When asked how she intends to drive meaningful change through her role as an elected official, as well as how others can take action, Seban outlined key principles to put into practice on a daily basis:
The first step, she said, is to denounce any form of hatred. Seban believes that education is the solution, as it is the key to breaking down cliches and stereotypes. In her department, where 40% of the population is under 25, part of her role involves visiting schools in order to educate youth.
Seban tells students that not all Arabs are violent, as people would like to believe, or that not all Jews are rich, as many think, and that fraternity and peace between Jews and Arabs is possible.
She stressed the importance of separating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the situation between Jews and Arabs in France. These are two separate issues, she said, and it is important that we don’t allow the international conflict to damage the relationship of peace and fraternity in France.
Secondly, Seban said, we must advocate for justice and adequate punishment when necessary.
Interfaith dialogue
Seban explained that any kind of hate, antisemitism, racism, or discrimination is about ignorance. “You ignore what you don’t know about.”
Acknowledging that enforcing change and making people understand the roots of evil and hate, is a momentous task that will take generations to achieve, Seban urged people to take action.
She also believes in the power of interfaith dialogue to change mindsets and works with imams, rabbis, and priests on a daily basis, striving to demonstrate that coexistence is possible and necessary.
“I would like to make people understand that there is no difference between us because of religion. Whatever your religion is, we all need to fight to protect our values in order to respect and understand others.”
“We are all brothers and sisters.”
Interfaith dialogue, said Seban, should be encouraged and reinforced through education - not only in schools, but also at home. For this reason, she emphasized the importance of protecting teachers while also encouraging parents to recognize their vital role in nurturing their children’s understanding of peace and mutual respect.
Seban’s book: a personal message
Asked what inspired her to write a book, Seban affirmed that she has always stood for moral clarity and courage. Her book is a deeply personal project reflecting her modest upbringing, values, and pride in being both French and Jewish. Though not an autobiography, the book shares her experiences and offers solutions to combat hate, racism, and discrimination while also addressing immigration issues in France.
In her book, Seban shares her love of France and of Judaism, emphasizing that both are part of her identity. She does not see a conflict between her French nationality and Jewish identity and believes that respecting the country’s values is key.
“I’m Jewish of course. This is my personal life… but I’m also French, and I do not have to choose between my French nationality, my identity, and my religion and my faith. These are two separate things, but we can make them match at some point. It is all about respecting the values of the country you grew up in.”
Through her book, Seban aims to highlight the troubling influence of extremist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe and the urgency of the situation but also to provide solutions.
She also hopes that this book will inspire others to take action and that “people will see some light in this dark period.”
Future of Israel-France relations
In terms of the best avenues for cooperation between France and Israel, Seban asserted that we must not forget that Israel is the only democracy in the region. In France, especially in the far-left, some political leaders want to make others believe that this is not the case.
Seban reminds us that France and Israel are friends and of the importance of protecting the strong ties between both countries, regardless of international crises, through cultural, economic, and educational cooperation.
“There are many things we have in common, and we need to cultivate this.”
“France is a wonderful country. The link between Israel and France is deep, and we should not forget about it. Israel is also a wonderful country. It is the Holy Land, where all religions are gathered all together - Jews, Christians, and Muslims.”
She described the current political climate as a “toxic cocktail” in which “ideology is setting the fire; political opportunism is nurturing the flames; and societal fractures are keeping the fire alive.”
For this reason, we have a great responsibility to play in denouncing political opportunism and in speaking out against what is happening in France and worldwide.
“I’m really proud to be here,” Seban concluded. “I really love Israel and Jerusalem, but I’m also proud of my country, France. I don’t have to choose between my Jewish identity and my French nationality — both are a part of who I am.”