A French taxi app for visiting Israelis is gaining popularity amid rising antisemitism
Monite, an application similar to Uber designed specifically for Hebrew speakers, is catching on beyond its intended audience, as unprecedented levels of hate threaten local Jews
PARIS — As a Jewish woman, Levana has always been anxious about using taxis in France, especially when alone. Those concerns were compounded after the outbreak of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in 2023.
“Since October 7, things have become really complicated, the doubts and the fear are really much more intense,” said the 37-year-old French-Israeli.
But that was before. For some time now, Levana has found peace of mind in a new taxi application called Monite.
“Someone told me about this app, I tried it, and what a joy it is to feel safe. It’s priceless,” said Levana, who now uses it all the time in France.
Launched last September by three Franco-Israelis, the app, similar to Uber, offers rides with taxi drivers who have a command of Hebrew and are familiar with Jewish culture.
“Many [Israelis] told us that it had become complicated to travel abroad, that they were afraid to say that they came from Israel and felt a bit of insecurity,” said Ilan Amar, one of Monite’s co-founders.
The app also quickly became popular in the greater French Jewish community due to a rise in already rampant antisemitism.
“The Jewish population of France wasn’t necessarily our specific target,” said Amar. “But in the end, our app was a breath of fresh air for Jews in France who feel unsafe. Unfortunately, it reveals a huge problem in France.”
Since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people in southern Israel were slaughtered and 251 kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, antisemitism has continued to increase in France.
According to the last figures from the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), 1,570 antisemitic incidents were recorded in France in 2024, nearly four times the 436 recorded in 2022.
Safety assurances
To ensure the security of both drivers and users, Monite conducts online checks of new users.
“We do a check online to see that there aren’t any real problems because sometimes you can have people who have so much hatred that they try to find a way to do harm,” said Amar. “Basically, anyone who supports or is a friend of Israel can register and use the app.”
For drivers, a video interview is required. “We had a really good job interview,” said Kevin Cohen, a taxi driver in the Paris region who has been using Monite for six months. “So in terms of safety, I would say that customers have automatic security.”
Cohen adds that feedback is very positive. “We’ve had nothing but positive comments. People feel really safe with us,” he said. “Whether it’s picking up parents at the airport or children from school, they don’t mind getting into a vehicle where they don’t have to hide their Jewishness or even change their name.”
Several stories have recently made headlines in France. A taxi driver refused a ride (French link) to a Jewish family upon their arrival at the Paris Orly Airport and called the father a “dirty Jew,” adding that if he were to give the family a ride, he would “cut your throat [and that of] your wife and your children.”
The driver was found guilty of death threats and religious discrimination, and given a suspended prison sentence of eight months by a French court last year.
“Ninety percent of people who use the app for the first time return to use the service again. So there’s a real repeat use, which means there’s a real sense of security,” said Amar.
Growing global popularity
Monite currently has approximately 150 drivers and just over 15,000 users on the platform. The services are currently only available in four French cities — Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Nice — but given its success, the application could expand elsewhere.
“We have received a lot of requests from drivers in the United States and elsewhere in Europe,” said Amar. “So we see that it’s a real social problem in many places. We are currently working to develop the service in popular destinations for Israelis, such as the United States, the UK and Spain.”
For now, the app focuses heavily on pre-planned trips such as airport arrivals, but could also offer last-minute trips when more drivers join the platform.
“We are also working on it, but what works best today is trip pre-planning,” said Amar.
Beyond the feeling of security, Monite also strengthens bonds in the community. Cohen was able to see this in action during a soccer game between Israel and France last November at the Stade de France in Paris. The game took place under high tension and security, just days after violent antisemitic riots shook the city of Amsterdam following a similar game featuring the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club.
“The tension was enormous during this match with everything that was going on,” Cohen said. “It was very tense and almost impossible to find a driver. Asking an Uber to pick up an Israel supporter — I don’t think there were any. So we had to be there that day to serve the community. We feel invested with a mission.”
The Times of Israel Community.