Source: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3932313.stm
On July 28, 2004 the BBC News reported, "A plane carrying 200 French Jewish immigrants has landed in Israel, at a time of strained diplomatic relations between Israel and France. They were personally greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who recently urged French Jews to flee to Israel to escape rising anti-Semitism. In his welcoming speech, Mr Sharon moved to reduce tensions with France...The BBC's Katya Adler in Tel Aviv says Mr Sharon's speech was clearly a conciliatory gesture aimed at the French authorities. He said anti-Semitism threatened the Western world, but he did not single 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. Jews must come to Israel not because of hatred or fear. Jews must immigrate because it is their homeland,' he said."