The number of antisemitic incidents across France has quadrupled and the situation has been steadily deteriorating for two decades, he said. The atmosphere towards the Jews is sometimes “unbearable.”
"We are excited to bring Israela's proven expertise to English-speaking communities," says Colonel Vach. "Aliyah is a response to strengthening Israel amidst adversity."
French Jews were plagued on both sides of the political spectrum by extreme candidates, some with a long history of antisemitism and some with a very recent history.
Marlene and Lucien Elmkayes visited Israel in November for their son's wedding, but buried him instead after he fell in battle. Now, they are making aliyah to Jerusalem to honor their son Binyamin.
French Jews are very Zionist and have strong connections to Israel, said Sion, and many have wanted to move to Israel and come to help build up the state for a long time.
Altogether, Aliyah files have been opened for about 1,200 people since October 7th, compared to about 220 in the corresponding period last year.
During the meeting, the participants raised issues such as the state of aliyah to Israel and difficulties that professionals in the medical fields from France encounter when trying to immigrate.
Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer on prioritizing immigrants to Israel from France and the US: "Such discrimination by origin has never been done."
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