Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Jews in France, after 17 people were killed there in Islamist attacks, that Israel is their home and his government wants them to immigrate.
"To all the Jews of France, all the Jews of Europe, I would like to say that Israel is not just the place in whose direction you pray, the state of Israel is your home," he said yesterday in a statement, referring to the Jewish practice of facing Jerusalem during prayer.
"This week, a special team of ministers will convene to advance steps to increase immigration from France and other countries in Europe that are suffering from terrible anti-Semitism.
"All Jews who want to immigrate to Israel will be welcomed here warmly and with open arms. We will help you in your absorption here in our state that is also your state," he said in the statement.
Netanyahu, accompanied by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, will join world leaders in Paris today for a rally in tribute to the victims which is expected to draw more than a million people.
Four of the fatalities in France's three-day wave of violence were Jews killed in an attack on a kosher supermarket hours before the start of the Jewish Sabbath on Friday.
Netanyahu named them as Yoav Hattab, Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen and Francois-Michel Saada.
"We express our deep sorrow for our Jewish brothers who were murdered simply because they were Jews," he said.
"(To) our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community of France we share your pain at the awful loss," he added.
Lieberman met foreign ministry and security officials to discuss repercussions of the attacks.
"The meeting discussed strengthening ties with the heads of the Jewish community in France and the security of the various institutions of the Jewish community there," ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said in a statement.
