Netanyahu Orders Plan for French Immigration Amid Unrest
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the preparation of a plan to absorb potential immigrants from France due to ongoing riots there. The plan is being developed by the Ministers of Finance, Diaspora Affairs, and Aliyah and Integration. Nearly 4,000 Jews have already immigrated from France this year, a 40% increase. Concerns were also raised about the safety of the Jewish community in France amidst the unrest.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a plan for absorbing French immigrants due to riots.
- Nearly 4,000 Jews immigrated from France this year, a 40% increase from last year.
- Ministers of Finance, Diaspora Affairs, and Aliyah and Integration are tasked with creating the absorption plan.
- The plan must address the needs of economically weaker immigrants and provide housing.
- Concerns were raised about the safety of Jews in France amid the protests.
- Protests in France have involved students, riots, and clashes with police.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his government to prepare a comprehensive plan to absorb a potential wave of immigration from France, prompted by recent widespread riots in the country. The directive was issued during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Netanyahu assigned the task of formulating the plan to the Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, and Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer. Sources present at the meeting indicated that Sofer urged preparedness for a significant influx of French Jews, emphasizing the need to remove barriers and provide support for those with limited financial means. Smotrich agreed, stating that budgets should be allocated for assisting economically weaker populations and for housing projects to accommodate new immigrants. Netanyahu expressed his support, telling the ministers, "We need to do this."
This year, nearly 4,000 Jews have already immigrated to Israel from France, a 40% increase compared to the previous year. The government's discussion took place against the backdrop of escalating clashes between protesters and police across France, including a "Day of Rage" on Tuesday that marked the peak of protests that began the previous week. Students from hundreds of schools blocked entrances and roads, and incidents of arson and attacks on police and passersby were reported, particularly in working-class suburbs like Saint-Denis near Paris.
Critics of the protests have accused Jean-Luc Mélenchon's "Unbowed France" party of inciting violence and fueling the unrest, also pointing to the involvement of immigrants and their children in the street violence. Minister of Settlement Affairs Orit Struk voiced concerns about the safety of French Jews, suggesting that anti-Jewish and anti-Israel elements are behind the demonstrations and that Jews are afraid to display Jewish symbols in France. Struk called on Netanyahu to engage with French authorities to develop an emergency plan for the community's protection, in addition to Israel's immigration absorption preparations.
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