TOI writers on French aliya, and French racism

While Israeli politicians urge mass immigration from France in the wake of the Paris attacks, a lack of adequate job prospects already means many immigrants only live in Israel on the weekends, commuting to their jobs in France during the week, The Times of Israel’s Amanda Borschel-Dan reports.

She writes: “For many French Jewish professionals and businessmen who have already made Israel home, however, intransigent Israeli government bureaucracy and earning potential at a fraction of the salaries they’d received in France have forced them into a dual life. Their ‘home’ is indeed in Israel, but their work is abroad. And this experience indicates that anticipation of a massive wave of immigration from France’s 500,000-strong Jewish community, however troubled it may be amid the rising climate of hostility and violence, may be misplaced.”

Read the full report here.

TOI’s Elhanan Miller, reporting from Paris, interviews a director-general of an anti-racism group in France.

“Public figures feel more and more at ease to express themselves in a racist or anti-Semitic manner,” Etienne Allais says. “During times of economic and social crisis, there is always scapegoating. We have warned against this, because it’s extremely dangerous for a society.”

Read the full report here.