Israeli Parliament Considers Emergency Aliyah in Response to French Antisemitism Surge

The Knesset’s Committee for Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs convened on Monday to address the rising antisemitism worldwide, the protection of Jewish communities in the Diaspora, and the government's readiness for an influx of immigrants to Israel.

Since the beginning of the war with Hamas, 3,714 French Jews have opened Aliyah files for Israel. According to the Knesset, 68% of French Jews do not feel safe, and 38% (around 200,000 people) are considering emigrating from France. The Jewish Agency has reported a 400% increase in Aliyah files among French Jews since the war began.

The Knesset noted that 60,000 French Jews are eligible to immigrate to Israel immediately. Additionally, 3,300 candidates who have opened Aliyah files in France over the past three years plan to move to Israel in 2024.

Committee Chair MK Oded Forer emphasized the threat posed by the rise of the radical left in France, citing the pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel positions of leaders like Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Forer pointed out that Mélenchon and his party have been accused of antisemitism and have not condemned the October 7 massacre, instead accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. “The amount of hatred and incitement of the leftist parties towards Jews legitimizes violent actions against the Jews,” Forer stated.

Albert Myara, leader of the Jewish community in south Paris, reported a 400% increase in antisemitic incidents across France. While he noted no immediate danger to Jewish lives, he highlighted the intolerable attitude towards Jews, particularly in the suburbs. Many French Jews are interested in making Aliyah but fear absorption-related difficulties, mainly in housing.

A Jewish school teacher in France recounted a recent incident where children attending a Chabad summer camp were harassed by local children, who cursed and shoved them while calling them "dirty Jews." Similarly, Rabbi Moshe Sebbag, chief rabbi of the Grand Synagogue of Paris, noted that many in the Jewish community prefer to conceal their Jewish identity in public spaces.

Shimon Shamila of the Jewish Agency stated that in an emergency Aliyah situation, they could evacuate 1,000 apartments to aid in absorbing new immigrants. Since the beginning of the year, 700 people have immigrated to Israel from France. The Jewish Agency is prepared to open additional absorption sites and distribute accelerated Aliyah permits, similar to those issued during the war in Ukraine.

MK Forer concluded by stressing the urgency of an emergency plan to prevent Israel from missing out on potential Jewish immigrants. “The Jewish communities around the world can find themselves under attack at any given moment,” Forer warned.

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