TEL AVIV, Israel – Just 10 days after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon enraged French leaders by urging France’s Jews to leave for Israel, a group of 200 French Jews arrived to start a new life in the Jewish state, with Sharon at the airport to greet them.
At a welcoming ceremony, Sharon appeared to try to repair the damage from his earlier statements, saying anti-Semitism threatens the Western world, without singling out France.
“We therefore very much appreciate the determined actions of the French government, as well as the French president’s stand against anti-Semitism. We hope that his determination will serve as an example to other countries as well.”
Softening his earlier appeal, Sharon said, “Jews must come to Israel not because of hatred or fear. Jews must immigrate because it is their homeland.”
Emerging from the plane, the immigrants sang “Heveinu Shalom Aleichem,” or “we bring peace to you,” a traditional Hebrew song of greeting. A heavyset man with a beard, wearing a white shirt and skullcap, danced, his arms above his head.
Carol Ben Guigui, 41, carrying a dog in her arms, said, “In five or 10 years, all the Jews of France will be in Israel because of anti-Semitism.”
“Welcome to Israel,” Sharon said, “welcome home.”
Also at the airport to greet the immigrants were opposition Labor Party leader Shimon Peres and Israel’s two chief rabbis.
The group included 50 children and 55 university students, according to the Jewish Agency, the body that deals with immigration to Israel.
In a July 18 speech to visiting Jewish American leaders, Sharon told them France was host to “the wildest anti-Semitism.”
“If I have to advocate to our brothers in France, I will tell them one thing: Move to Israel, as early as possible,” he said.
The latest French Interior Ministry figures show 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of this year compared with 593 for all of 2003.
Associated Press
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (right) greets members of the Shelly family, who immigrated Wednesday from France, after their arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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