Paris -- European governments and Jewish groups were on Tuesday preparing to face a possible surge in anti-Semitic violence as Israel's invasion of Gaza sparked protests.

France, home to Europe's biggest Arab and Jewish populations, fears further attacks after a gang rammed a car into a gate outside a synagogue in the southern city of Toulouse late Monday and set it on fire.

No one was hurt, but the incident revived memories of a sharp spike in anti-Semitic crimes in 2002, against the backdrop of earlier fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was touring the Middle East to seek support for a new Gaza ceasefire, issued a statement condemning the attack.

"The President of the Republic believes that our country will not tolerate international tension mutating into inter-community violence," he warned.

Sarkozy called for France to unite behind his drive for peace, dubbing this the "only possible response and dignified attitude for our country faced with the tragic circumstances in the Middle East."

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie sent a letter to regional security chiefs warning them that evidence had emerged that "groups or individuals may be trying to exploit the situation.

"Everything must be put in place to avert this risk and protect the principles that ensure national unity," she said.

In neighboring Belgium, a government spokesman said security forces were taking precautions as street protests against Israel's campaign in Gaza grow in size and in anger.

"We note that the situation is becoming more explosive," he said, even as police reported that a gang had attempted to set fire to the door of a Brussels synagogue using paper and petrol as accelerants.

Scuffles broke out last week following a pro-Palestinian march in the Belgium port city of Antwerp, which has large Jewish and Muslim communities. On Tuesday, leaders from both camps issued a joint appeal for calm.

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