The children, ages 8 to 16, were at a summer camp in Spain and had booked the park through a Spanish travel agency. But the park manager allegedly blocked their entry, forcing them to travel by three buses to a different site. The original park boasts 12 zipline lines stretching 2,000 meters over a lake and waterfall, up to 50 meters above ground.
The first hint that safety was not the real issue came from a brief Wednesday Facebook post: “Due to the recent storm, the park will be closed Thursday for a full safety inspection. This is essential to ensure your safety and the best experience for your next visit. Thank you for your understanding and see you soon in the air.”
French media quickly reported that the closure was likely aimed at preventing Israeli visitors. According to French authorities, the park manager, Florian Sollac, 52, refused entry due to “personal principles.”
Sollac was arrested by Perpignan police on charges of “refusal to provide service or conduct business based on religious discrimination.” He has no criminal record, and the maximum penalty is three years in prison. He denies the allegations.
The arrest shocked many in France, including a former park manager who worked with Sollac for years. “For years, he accepted groups of young Israelis. I worked with them over a decade ago, and we welcomed them. If he were racist, he wouldn’t have done that,” he said.
Israel’s embassy in France condemned the move: “A new act of anti-Semitic hatred against Israelis—this time against children. It echoes dark periods in history when Jews were banned from public spaces. This wave of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment must end. We appreciate the swift response of French authorities, sending a clear message that such actions are unacceptable under any circumstances.”
Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan and former partner of Marine Le Pen, called the act “serious and unacceptable,” reflecting a toxic political climate in France. “Under the cover of Hamas’ declaration of war on October 7, Jews and Israelis are targeted with hostility. Following attacks on Jewish-owned shops and assaults on citizens, France has earned the dubious distinction of being Europe’s most antisemitic country. The president and left bear responsibility for this deterioration.”
Corinne Serfaty-Stringer of CRIF, representing Jewish organizations in France, said: “We are in the midst of a tsunami of anti-Semitism. This is further proof that being Jewish and Israeli on French soil is increasingly dangerous.”
