March 5, 2005

Some 60,000 French Jews are interested in immigrating to Israel, according to Bar-Ilan University research conducted by Dr. Arik Cohen.

The research was based on questionnaires given to the 125,000 Jewish tourists from France who visited the country in the past summer. They constitute a third of the total population of French Jews.

Of those asked, 52 percent said they see their future in Israel. Half of those aged 15-18 said they had personally experienced instances of anti-Semitism in the past four years. A third of the youth said they are considering immigration to Israel in the near future.

The findings were presented at a press conference in Jerusalem on Thursday, where the inauguration of AMI, an organization of French Jewry, was announced. The group will work toward increasing Jewish immigration from France.

In the past year, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called on French Jewry to immigrate to Israel. He angered the French government and a number of leaders of the Jewish community in France.

The chairman of the Jewish Agency, Sallai Meridor, said Thursday that AMI constitutes an expression of support for immigration to Israel by the French Jewry.

The budget of the organization for 2005 stands at $1.5 million, donated by high-tech mogul Pierre Besanano.

In the past three years, only 7,000 French Jews immigrated to Israel. AMI officials argue that many French Jews avoid immigration because of the difficulties experienced during their absorption - particularly in finding jobs.

SOURCE: Haaretz