Anti-Jewish tendencies among French intellectuals?

A lawsuit in France has generated a debate over whether parts of the country's intellectual elite have an anti-Semitic bias. The case concerns a commentary published in the daily newspaper "Le Monde" in June 2002. Two groups, Lawyers Without Borders and France Israel General Koenig Association, considered it defamatory toward Jews. An appeals ruling has now ordered the defendants to pay out one euro each in symbolic damages. It also required "Le Monde" to publish a notice on the verdict. The appeals court condemned the article -- "Israel-Palestine: The Cancer" -- for two passages which among other things refer to Jews as "a people dominating and sure of itself" and "a contemptuous people getting satisfaction by humiliating." The authors had equated "Jews" with "the Israeli government" and said the two passages in question stood out for their "outrageous accusations." A year ago, French comedian Dieudonné was convicted and fined €5,000 (US$ 6000) by a French court for comments also published in "Le Monde". He had accused Jews of "organizing a very strong lobby and taking control of the media."