Jewish Groups Welcome Paris Restaurant’s Suspension of Staff Photographed Making Antisemitic ‘Quenelle’ Salute
by Algemeiner Staff
Le Train Bleu staff members engage in a ‘quenelle’ salute. Photo: Twitter.
Jewish groups are welcoming the move by a famous Paris restaurant to suspend staff members who were recently photographed making a notorious antisemitic gesture.
The incident in question — detailed in a Haaretz report — occurred at Le Train Bleu, located in the French capital’s Gare de Lyon train station.
The controversy arose after a picture began circulating on social media of Le Train Bleu employees smiling as they engaged in a “quenelle” salute – which was created and popularized by the antisemitic French comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala.
Shortly after the scandal erupted, the company that owns Le Train Bleu issued a condemnation and announced the suspension of the involved staff members until an investigation was completed.
On Wednesday, the World Jewish Congress — joined by the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) — expressed “appreciation” for the restaurant’s action.
Employees at the famous Le Train Bleu restaurant were photographed performing the antisemitic #Quenelle.
We join @Le_CRIF in expressing appreciation for the management’s decision to suspend all those involved and to launch an investigation.https://t.co/BYBCF5tiIj
— WJC (@WorldJewishCong) January 2, 2019
The American Jewish Committee’s Paris office also earlier tweeted its support for the restaurant’s management.
Bravo au #TrainBleu qui choisit de porter plainte contre ses employés après une photo où ces derniers reproduisent le geste de la quenelle, dont l’#antisémitisme n’est plus à prouver – https://t.co/Q2s2lV4dql
— AJC Paris (@AJC_Paris) December 31, 2018
