The homegrown threat to France

In December 2014, several terrorist attacks took place in France that for whatever reason were categorized as "incidents." There were even two car-ramming attacks, one in Nantes (at the Christmas market) and one in Toulouse. However, those responsible for these acts were always judged "mentally unstable," which of course explained their heinous acts and the accompanying "strange" cry of "Allahu akbar."

France did not know that a new year full of many even more gruesome attacks was right around the corner. In January 2015, there was the horrifying attack at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and only two days later, the attack at the Hypercacher kosher supermarket. Then, on Nov. 13 came the deadliest attack in France's recent history: the suicide-bombings at the Stade de France during the match between France and Germany, followed quickly by attacks at cafes and restaurants in the 11th and 12th arrondissements followed by the terrible attack at the Bataclan concert hall, where an audience that had gathered to see a band saw scenes of death instead.

After these attacks, the French exemplified "sacred unity," a concept considered to be a true national value. But after this latest ramming attack, this principle has given way to everyday politics. The Right is attacking the Left, the extreme Right is attacking both sides, and the Left is also attacking. France is divided, and the proof of this is that this time, unlike after the previous attacks, the masses did not gather at Place de la Republique in Paris to light candles and hold a memorial ceremony together. The mourning has become individualized -- the collective has seemingly been damaged by terrorism as well.

"France is at war," French President Francois Hollande announced, declaring a state of emergency in his country. For a month, cafes in Paris were half-empty on a good day. But the citizens' instinct is to return to their daily routine as much as possible. And precisely because of this, despite the state of emergency and despite security warnings, this despicable terrorist, a resident of Nice, succeeded in passing through a police checkpoint on Bastille Day, and ended up murdering 84 people and wounding 200 more, a quarter of them children. Pure horror.

France must toughen its stance

France did not really want to believe that it was at war. Human rights groups were quick to say that a state of emergency was a breach of human rights. As though a person's most basic right is not simply to live -- the very reason that the state of emergency was declared. France refuses to recognize the fact that its homegrown terrorism is now its most dangerous threat. It nobly refuses to see every Muslim as a threat -- though we must add that even if 99.9 percent of the Muslim population deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, the 0.1 percent that is enraptured by jihad is capable of attacking today and in the future.

t would be hard to say that the attack in Nice came as a surprise to the French. Only a week earlier, France made it through the Euro 2016 without a single attack, despite great concern. Four games were played in Nice. There were barely even any clashes among soccer fans. A few days later, everyone began to relax -- and then came the destruction. Perhaps there is nothing that can be done to stop a crazed truck attack, as the French wonder.

We must first understand that the beautiful city of Nice is problematic: Jihadis are recruited in this summer vacation spot. There are many terror cells. Two soldiers guarding a Jewish institution were stabbed in Nice only a year and a half ago.

Even the way the attack was carried out is familiar: Mentally unstable attackers not only rammed into people in France in December 2014, but also in London inn 2013 and in Canada in 2014, as well as in another country, as the French media reiterated non-stop: Israel. Israel is a country perceived in Europe as "aggressive," but on Friday, suddenly everyone recognized that Israel deals with many ramming attacks. Speaking on an ITV broadcast, a senior commentator suggested adopting Israel's security procedures.

The strikes recently suffered by the Islamic State group have made it even more dangerous. Islamic State has chosen to show the world that it is capable of attacking when and where it wants with the help of apparently lone-wolf attackers acting in Allah's name. The choices made in the Nice attack were not coincidental: July 14, a holiday of freedom; Nice, a well-known Mediterranean resort town; the truck passed by landmarks. Several symbols in a single attack, even before getting to the huge number of victims. It is impossible to prevent the public from celebrating and impossible to tail every suspicious person, but there are things that can be done.

Today, we are all French

France needs to toughen up its stance against those who do not recognize the laws of the republic and who do not respect its secularism. Democracies have the right to defend their freedom. And if a citizen cries out about "less freedom" -- the state will respond, "more life." Western democracies have been asleep at the switch for too long. U.S. President Barack Obama's spirit has taken over. Now, it may be a bit too late. The jihadis have returned, their sick ideology has spread and the Islamic State group has taken over a great deal of territory, including areas where it is not sovereign.

And a final word for those good Muslims and kind imams who only incite to "peace" in their mosques: It wouldn't hurt for you to join the campaign instead of making excuses for terrorism. The Muslim world also has an important role in this war of hearts and minds.

Today, we are all French. In my case, this is also the literal truth. My wife and children are currently on vacation in the south of France. I can't wait for them to return. Who would believe that I would feel safer and more calm to have them here in Israel? We cried with the French on Nov. 13 and we cried with them again on Thursday night. They may upset us when they try to dictate solutions for us and announce all kinds of peace initiatives. But, France, we love you despite everything and we are grateful. So we will cry with you today and laugh with you tomorrow, because we will defeat terrorism in the third world war, which we are in together. Amen.

Vive la France et vive la Republique.