France, May 6 -- The French ministry that deals with discrimination said the aim of Monday's consultations was to define a common base of national values against anti-Semitism.

"When we see the unfortunate volume of anti-Semitic acts, we think the whole of society must wake up," Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Minister Aurore Berge told French TV news channel BFMTV, referring to a "terrifying resurgence".

Berge is the official tasked with bringing together the heads of anti-discrimination groups, including the Jewish students' union UEJF and anti-racist groups Licra and SOS Racisme, and representatives of the six main religions.

The consultations were announced in March as a response to a column published by the NGO Nous Vivron...