Olim from France, on the plane to Israel.
Photo: Motti Kimchi
Large dip in number of French immigrants to Israel
Despite fears of terrorism and anti-Semitism in the country, a 42% drop in French Jewish people making aliyah has occurred this year; one major factor seems to be worries regarding the potential olim's financial prospects in Israel.
The number of Jewish people making aliyah (immigrating to Israel from France in the first eight months of 2016 has shown a 42 percent decline from the same period in 2015. Even though estimates predicted that the terror attacks in the country would boost the number of olim (people making aliyah), it seems that an opposite trend has taken hold.
The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) report for the last Jewish year shows that despite the fears of terrorism and anti-Semitism in France, only 3,452 people have immigrated to Israel from the country between January and August 2016, compared to 5,930 people in the same period of 2015.
French immigrants arriving in Israel. A 42% decline from the same period in 2015. (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
According to figures collected by the Jewish Agency for Israel, over 200,000 French Jews are considering making aliyah. The total number of olim for the entirety of 2015 was 7,835.
JPPI mentioned several factors for the dramatic decline, among them the French authorities' commitment to battle anti-Semitism, the fact that most of the Zionist Jews in France have already made aliyah, and the rise of terrorist activity in Israel which has weakened its comparative appeal with French Jewry.
Another explanation is French Jews' concerns regarding the Israeli job market and their place in it. Apparently, a significant amount of French Jewish emigrants choose countries other than Israel for this reason.
