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French Israelis

Graffiti reading "No Deel ZOG" -- using an acronym for the antisemitic term "Zionist-Occupied Government," popularized by white supremacists -- is seen on the Arsenal soccer team's Emirates Stadium in London, on May 18, 2026. (X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
May 21, 2026, 9:09 am
‘ZOG’: Antisemitic graffiti at Arsenal stadium after UK team unveils Israeli-founded sponsor
Vandals use ‘Zionist Occupied Government’ conspiracy theory in targeting London soccer team, the new English league champion, and US company Deel, founded by a French-Israeli
By ToI Staff
Israelis watch a screening of a ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron in memory of the 42 French citizens who were murdered in the October 7 attack, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, February 7, 2024. (Flash90)
July 25, 2025, 3:23 pm
‘Abandonment’: French Israelis fume as Paris prepares to recognize Palestinian state
Israelis of French origin say Macron’s move in September won’t help Palestinians, but will encourage further terrorism and put Jews in France at risk of heightened antisemitism
By Michael Blum
The body of civilian hostage Elia Toledano, 28, was found by Israeli troops in Gaza and returned to Israel, the military said on December 15, 2023. (Courtesy)
March 21, 2024, 9:57 pm
Elia Toledano, 28: Tel Aviv event planner who was ‘full of joy’
Murdered by Hamas while in captivity in Gaza after being kidnapped from the Supernova festival on October 7
By ToI Staff
Celine Ben David Nagar (Courtesy)
October 16, 2023, 4:32 pm
Celine Ben David, 32: New mom celebrating last week of maternity leave
French-Israeli mother murdered while on the way to Supernova music festival, October 7
By ToI Staff
Families of French-Israeli citizens who are still missing in the aftermath of the massacre in Gaza border communities attend a press conference in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. (Courtesy)
October 12, 2023, 9:19 pm
‘We went through a pogrom’: Relatives of missing French-Israelis appeal to Macron
At press conference, parents, siblings and spouses weep over their loved ones, some of whom have been abducted by Hamas to Gaza
By Jessica Steinberg
Shirly Chikli, ex-wife of French-Israeli con man Gilbert Chikli, gets her screen time on Netflix's 'The Masked Scammer,' a documentary about the scammer and his story. (Courtesy screen grab)
December 18, 2022, 3:10 am
Netflix documentary about flim-flammer Gilbert Chikli gives Israeli ex the last word
‘The Masked Scammer’ brings Shirly Chikli — an aspiring DJ and single mom of four — to the screen to tell her side of a story that saw her former husband con the rich and famous
By Jessica Steinberg
Igbo Jewish leader Lizben Agha (courtesy)
August 9, 2021, 5:00 pm
Nigeria releases local Jewish leader who was arrested with Israeli filmmakers
Igbo community’s Lizben Agha, held for a month without charges, is freed almost two weeks after Israeli trio sent home
By Lazar Berman
Three Israeli filmmakers held in Nigeria for 20 days prepare to board a flight from Abuja to Istanbul on their way home, July 28, 2021. From L-R, Andrew Leibman, Rudy Rochman, Deputy Ambassador Yotam Kreiman, David Benaim (Israel Embassy in Nigeria)
July 29, 2021, 12:21 pm
Israeli filmmakers arrive home after 20 days in Nigerian prison
Lapid thanks his staff, Nigerian authorities for working to free trio suspected of contact with Biafran separatists, says Israel worked with French, US embassies to secure release
By Lazar Berman
(L-R) Deputy French Ambassador to Nigeria Olivier Chatelais, David Benaym, Andrew Leibman, Acting Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Yotam Kreinman, US Embassy in Nigeria FBI Legal Attaché Ahmadi Uche, Deputy US Ambassador to Nigeria Kathleen FitzGibbon, Abuja Chabad Rabbi Mendy Sternbach; US citizens services representative in Nigeria, Rudy Rochman and Gabbi Kreinman pose for a photo at Chabad Lubavitch in Abuja, Nigeria on 28 July, 2021, after Leibman, Rochman and Benaym were released from detention. (Courtesy)
July 29, 2021, 12:03 am
Israeli filmmakers leave Nigeria after nearly 3 weeks in prison
Trio en route to Israel via Turkey and expected to land Thursday morning after being held for suspected contacts with separatists
By Lazar Berman
Zionist activist Rudy Rochman pitches his project, 'We Were Never Lost.' (Screenshot)
July 16, 2021, 6:46 pm
Israeli filmmakers to spend second Shabbat in Nigerian jail
Still without legal representation and not charged with any crime, trio receiving support from Chabad, embassies
By Lazar Berman
Illustrative: Participants singing and clapping during an event in Umuahia, Nigeria, May 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)
July 14, 2021, 2:30 pm
They gave a Torah: Families of Israelis held in Nigeria deny separatist support
Relatives of filmmakers detained while filming documentary say gifting of Torah scroll to local community has been ‘twisted’ by local political actors to imply political backing
By Michael Bachner, Jacob Magid and Lazar Berman
Illustrative: Travelers seen at the arrival hall of Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, on April 11, 2018. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
October 12, 2019, 2:49 pm
Nothing to declare? Two French-Israelis indicted on money laundering charges
Adam Ivgi and Yonatan Yehuda Sisley-Chikli allegedly paid courier to smuggle cash through customs. Prosecutors seek to forfeit apartments they bought
By Simona Weinglass
Gilbert Chikli giving an interview in Israel at his Ashdod home, December 29, 2015. (Courtesy of i24 News/ via JTA)
September 26, 2019, 1:43 pm
French-Israeli men to stand trial over fake foreign minister scam
Gilbert Chikli and Anthony Lasarevitsch believed to be masterminds of audacious multi-million-euro shakedown that targeted wealthy people by impersonating top politician
By AFP
Illustrative image of a person being arrested. (BrianAJackson via iStock by Getty images)
August 28, 2019, 8:46 pm
French-Israeli man extradited to France to face charges for massive tax fraud
Michael Aknin, 39, allegedly sold carbon credits in France, then funneled €51 million to shell companies in East Asia to avoid tax payments
By ToI Staff
The arrival of 100 olim from France at Ben Gurion Airport on July 17, 2019. (Stéphanie Bitan / Times of Israel)
August 2, 2019, 2:47 pm
On a flight to Israel, French immigrants share a new homeland, but not motives
Reasons for leaving France for the Jewish state are as varied as the 100 people sitting aboard El Al flight LY3320 from Paris to Tel Aviv — though the excitement is unanimous
By Stéphanie Bitan
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