Israeli Companies Recruit in Paris Amidst Unrest and Rising Immigration
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Leading Israeli companies, including Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems, recruited potential immigrants in Paris at a job fair organized by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The event, held amidst French unrest, saw over 200 candidates interviewed, with more than 50 deemed suitable. Immigration from France has surged by 16% in early 2026 compared to all of 2025, prompting a government plan for housing and employment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli companies recruited potential immigrants in Paris due to rising immigration and unrest.
- Over 200 candidates were interviewed at the job fair, with more than 50 found suitable.
- Immigration from France has increased by 16% in early 2026 compared to all of 2025.
- The Prime Minister ordered a government plan to address housing and employment for French immigrants.
- Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer called it a multi-year high for immigration from France.
Amidst violent unrest and concerns within France's Jewish community regarding the rise of radical left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leading Israeli companies have begun recruiting potential immigrants in Paris even before their arrival in Israel. For the first time, representatives from Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Mekorot, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, and the National AI Directorate participated in a job fair organized by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration in Paris. Their goal was to identify potential employees among those eligible for the Law of Return and integrate them into the Israeli workforce preemptively.
The fair attracted approximately 2,000 attendees, representing over 600 households. Israeli company representatives interviewed around 200 candidates, with more than 50 deemed suitable and advancing to further recruitment stages in France. Data from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration indicates that about 90% of the fair's participants expressed an immediate desire to immigrate to Israel or during 2027.
Concurrently, representatives from the Ministry of Defense met with parents of lone soldiers serving in the IDF. The Paris fair, along with similar events in Marseille and Lyon, takes place against a backdrop of a sharp increase in immigration from France. Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 3,950 French immigrants have arrived in Israel, a figure about 16% higher than the total for all of 2025, which was around 3,400.
In response to this trend, the Prime Minister has directed the formulation of a government plan to encourage and absorb immigration from France, with a focus on housing and employment solutions. Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer stated that immigration from France is at a multi-year high and highlighted the strategy of bringing major Israeli companies to France to offer quality employment, a key factor for successful immigration and integration. Ministry Director General Dganit Sanker Langha added that the fair's scale underscores the need to prepare for a significant wave of immigration from France.
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