Knesset Discusses Preparations for Emergency Aliyah amid Increasing Antisemitism in France

3,714 French Jews have reportedly opened Aliyah files since the beginning of the war with Hamas.

By United with Israel

The Knesset’s Committee for Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs on Monday convened to discuss the increase in antisemitism across the world, the protection of Jewish communities in the Diaspora and the government’s preparations for absorbing waves of immigration to Israel.

According to the Knesset, in the nine months that have passed since the beginning of the war with Hamas, 3,714 Jews in France have opened Aliyah files for Israel. 68% of French Jews have reported that they do not feel safe, and 38% of French Jews (some 200,000 people) are considering the possibility of emigrating from France.

The Jewish Agency has reported a 400% increase in the number of Aliyah files among French Jews since the outbreak of the war.

Some 60,000 French Jews can immigrate to Israel immediately, the Knesset noted, adding that some 3,300 candidates who have opened Aliyah files in France over the past three years plan to immigrate to Israel in 2024.

During the meeting, Committee Chair MK Forer said, “The rise of the radical left in France is a very bad sign for Jews there.”

“Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical left in France, is known for his pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel positions. In the past, he and his people were accused of antisemitism. Mélenchon, like many others in his party, did not condemn the October 7 massacre, and he claims Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Forer continued.

“In his election rally, people were waving more Palestinian flags than French flags. The amount of hatred and incitement of the leftist parties towards Jews legitimizes violent actions against the Jews.”

Albert Myara, leader of the Jewish community in south Paris, said, “We have recently witnessed an increase in displays of antisemitism against Jews.”

“The number of antisemitic incidents across France has increased by 400%,” he continued.

While he said “There is currently no immediate danger to the lives of Jews in France,” he noted that “In specific areas, particularly in the suburbs, the situation has been gradually deteriorating for two decades now.”

“The [attitude] toward Jews is, at times, intolerable,” he added. “Many Jews across France are interested in making Aliyah to Israel, but they are afraid to because of the absorption-related difficulties, mainly in the field of housing.”

A teacher at a Jewish school in France said, “Last Friday children attending a Chabad summer camp were harassed by local 10-year-old children. The local children cursed and shoved the Jewish children, while calling them ‘dirty Jews.'”

Similarly, Rabbi Moshe Sebbag, chief rabbi of the Grand Synagogue of Paris, noted that “People in the Jewish community prefer to conceal their Jewish identity when they are in the public space.”

Shimon Shamila of the Jewish Agency said, “In the event of an emergency Aliyah, we will know how to evacuate some 1,000 apartments in order to help in the absorption of new immigrants.”

“Some 700 people have immigrated to Israel from France since the beginning of the year. The Jewish Agency is prepared to open additional sites for the absorption of immigrants to Israel,” Shamila added. “We are prepared to fly emissaries to different countries around the world to help in the Aliyah process. We are prepared for the distribution of accelerated Aliyah permits, similar to those that have been issued during the war in Ukraine.”

“The Jewish communities around the world can find themselves under attack at any given moment,” MK Forer concluded. “An emergency plan should be introduced that will prevent Israel from missing out on potential Jewish immigrants to Israel.”