Israel Welcomes 140 New Immigrants from France Including Three Sets of Twins and an 85-Year-Old Woman

On a special flight organized by Israel's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, 140 new immigrants from France arrived in Israel. The group included three sets of twins: four-month-old Mia and Ethel, five-month-old Noam and Nerli, and 11-year-old Noa and Avidan. The oldest immigrant on the flight was Annie, aged 85, who chose to reunite with her children living in Israel. The immigrants were welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport with a festive ceremony attended by their families, ministry representatives, the Jewish Agency, donors from the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, and youth movement members.

Since October 7, over 8,000 new immigrants from France have arrived in Israel. During the flight, each immigrant received their official immigrant certificate and Israeli ID number, formalizing their status before landing. According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, approximately 2,400 French immigrants arrived in Israel by the end of July 2026, marking a more than 30% increase compared to the previous year. The upward trend began in 2023 with 1,097 immigrants, doubled to 2,234 in 2024, and continued with 3,357 in 2025.

Interest in immigration from France is also reflected in the number of immigration applications filed. Since October 7, 2023, about 80,000 Jews worldwide have opened immigration files with the Jewish Agency’s Global Aliyah Center, including 20,000 from France. In 2026 alone, 2,800 French Jews have started the immigration process, a 30% increase over the same period last year.

Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer, highlighted the significance of young families choosing to immigrate now, emphasizing reforms aimed at easing integration, such as student programs, professional licensing, and housing solutions. Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog called immigration "the growth engine of Israel," stressing the importance of supporting families from their arrival. Dr. Jürgen Bühler, President of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, expressed encouragement over the rise in immigration despite ongoing regional threats, praising the immigrants’ contributions to Israel’s economy and culture.