For Levana, a 37-year-old French-Israeli, the app has been a lifeline. She said she had always been anxious about using taxis alone in France — a fear that intensified following last year’s attacks.
“Since October 7, things have become really complicated, the doubts and the fear are really much more intense,” she said.
She discovered Monite through word of mouth and now uses it regularly. “Someone told me about this app, I tried it, and what a joy it is to feel safe. It’s priceless,” she said.
Monite’s co-founder Ilan Amar said the idea for the app stemmed from feedback from Israeli travellers who no longer felt comfortable identifying themselves as such abroad.
“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,” he explained.
While initially aimed at Israeli tourists, the app quickly attracted France’s Jewish population, who have long reported feeling unsafe in public spaces.
“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.”
CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France), a major community umbrella organisation in the country, recorded 1,570 antisemitic incidents in 2024 — nearly four times the number in 2022.
To ensure safety, Monite carries out online ID checks on new users and requires video interviews for all prospective drivers.
“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,” continued Amar.
“Basically, anyone who supports or is a friend of Israel can register and use the app.”
Kevin Cohen, a driver in the Paris region who joined the platform six months ago, said Monite provides passengers with reassurance.
“We had a really good job interview,” he said. “So in terms of safety, I would say that customers have automatic security.”
He added: “We’ve had nothing but positive comments. People feel really safe with us. 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.”
The app’s rise follows a number of high-profile antisemitic incidents involving taxi drivers in France, including one case in which a Jewish family arriving at Paris Orly Airport was refused service and verbally abused.
The driver was later convicted of religious discrimination and handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
With 150 drivers currently on the platform, Monite’s founders are now eyeing expansion into other countries, including the UK, US, and Spain — all popular destinations for Israeli tourists and Jewish communities.
“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.”
Though the app currently focuses on pre-booked journeys like airport pickups, Amar said more flexible services could follow as the driver pool grows.
But, beyond transport, Monite is also fostering a sense of Jewish solidarity according to its founders. Cohen recalled working during a high-tension football match between France and Israel last November, days after antisemitic riots in Amsterdam disrupted a Maccabi Tel Aviv game.
“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,” said Cohen. “So we had to be there that day to serve the community. We feel invested with a mission.”
