Think Tank Prepares Aliyah Plan for 120,000 French Jews

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By JTA January 25, 2015

The Jewish People Policy Institute has composed a plan to facilitate immigration of 120,000 French Jews to Israel.

The plan by the Jewish Agency-affiliated think tank would prepare for up to 120,000 French Jews to arrive in Israel during the coming four years. The plan cited a rise in jihadist terror attacks and a difficult economy in Europe as causes of increased immigration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on French Jews to move to Israel following an attack on a French kosher supermarket in early January. Some 7,000 French Jews moved to Israel in 2014, the most of any country. Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky has said he expects up to 15,000 French Jews to move to Israel by 2016.

Because the immigrants would be leaving a strong economy, the JPPI plan involves offering increased benefits and job opportunities to French immigrants upon arrival in Israel.

“The Jewish Agency welcomes all constructive discourse surrounding Aliyah,” read a statement from the Jewish Agency regarding the plan, using the Hebrew word for immigration to Israel. “The activities of The Jewish Agency and of its partners in the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption reflect the range of possibilities and needs at any given time, in order to best address whatever situations may arise – in France as well as elsewhere.”

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