Unprecedented interest of French Jews in immigrating to Israel. Since the beginning of the war, there has been a 430% jump in the number of immigration files opened in France. As a result, yesterday the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, in cooperation with Ofek Israel, held an Aliyah fair in Paris, which was attended by thousands of people.
Immigrants arrived in Israel on Dr. Miriam Adelson's plane // Moshe Ben-Simhon
The Aliyah Fair was originally planned to take place in three months, but due to the huge demand, it was brought forward and will be held all week, every day in a different city, in order to provide a quick response to the growing interest in Aliyah to Israel.
Yesterday was the first day of the fair, which was attended by thousands of people who received comprehensive information from Israeli representatives about employment opportunities and vocational training in Israel, institutions of higher education, integration of children into educational frameworks, and more.
1,200 new immigration cases since October 7
Data from the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration indicate that since October 7, immigration files have been opened for about 1,200 men and women, compared with 220 in the same period last year. In addition, some 1,300 households participated in information evenings held by the Jewish Agency throughout France to provide up-to-date information about Israel.
Ariel Kandel, executive director of the "Qualita" association (the umbrella organization for French immigrants in Israel), explains that "the war in Israel, together with the atmosphere of anti-Semitism and the thousands of violent incidents against Jews in France, are currently expressed in the unprecedented desire of French Jews to immigrate to Israel and assist in the war effort. This is an opportune time, and we must not procrastinate," he said.
Ukrainian immigrants landing in Israel (archive), photo: Noga Malesa//Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
New immigrants at Ben Gurion Airport (archive), photo: Yossi Zeliger
Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Ofir Sofer, who participated in the fair yesterday, said: "I was very excited to meet the people and hear that they decided to immigrate to Israel immediately after October 7 and at a time when the country is in a difficult war. The moments when they saw the pictures were formative for many. For them, feelings of solidarity and identification with Israel were the main impetus for aliyah."
Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, said: "French Jews continue to express their unconditional love for the State of Israel. We all have the right and obligation to welcome them with open arms and help them realize their dream of establishing their home in Israel."
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