Source: The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=6650
On July 27, 2004 The Daily Star ran a commentary by Ribal Dayekh, a Lebanese journalist who follows French affairs, in response to Ariel Sharon's call for French Jews to emigrate to Israel. Dayekh writes, "This was not the first time Sharon spoke about the need for French Jews to leave for Israel, but rarely was he so blunt. There is irritation in France at the idea that life for Jews is becoming dangerous - especially as the government has made every effort to punish anti-Semitism...However, this situation did not stop the 'Conseil Representatif des Institutions Juives de France' (CRIF), the umbrella body representing France's organized Jewish community, from highlighting a series of anti-Semitic developments that have occurred in the past two decades...Despite this, French Jews are generally well integrated. Indeed, one of the biggest worries among Jewish leaders is that so many in the community marry out of their faith, and that religion is observed on just a few of the most important holidays. France has one of the largest Jewish communities outside Israel, as well as one of the most ancient. It is believed to number 700,000 people - the precise number is unknown, partly because the French census does not categorize religious or ethnic affiliation...Sharon's appeal to French Jews to emigrate has polarized the Jewish community far more than it has been polarized in decades. The real reasons behind Sharon's appeal are still unclear. There is deep-rooted suspicion that he is trying to boost immigration to Israel from one of the largest Jewish communities outside, given the fear that in 10-15 years Arabs will outnumber Israel's Jewish population. There is also suspicion that Sharon is attempting to stigmatize France, one of the most publicly pro-Palestinian of European states. Whatever the reason, the reality of French Judaism is considerably more complex than the Israeli prime minister has depicted it."