Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 15
By Jamila Jafarova - Trend:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Jews living in France to resettle to Israel. This will not lead to their resettlement to the Motherland, professor of American University and expert on Israel's studies Russell Stone said.
"It's not realistic to think that French Jews will move to Israel in large numbers, though a few may be motivated to do so," he said.
He said that in fact there has been increased migration from France to Israel in recent years, but not enough to affect the demographic situation.
"Netanyahu is an intensely political person and he is facing an imminent election," the expert said.
Stone said that so everything he does, particularly now, is shaped by his vision of what will be viewed favorably by his constituency, the Israeli right, and perhaps by some voters he might pick up by acting as a leader of the Zionist state which is a homeland and haven for all Jews.
"Recognition of Palestine by EU countries is a major issue for Netanyahu," he said.
"In fact it backfired on him as French President Francois Holland invited Palestine's leader Mahmoud Abbas to come to Paris after Netanyahu insisted on coming despite not being invited," he said. "And Netanyahu had to fight for a place in the front row of the iconic march once Abbas was there. To many Netanyahu's behavior looked foolish, but not his constituency of support within Israel."
Over 3.7 million people participated in the protests against terrorism in Paris on January 11.
Moreover, protests against terrorism were held in a number of countries, namely, the US, Palestine, Australia, Israel and Morocco. Over 1.5 million people participated there.
In 2014, Jewish emigration reached a 10-year maximum. Around 26,500 people moved to Israel for permanent residence. For the first time in history, France is in the lead on the number of those who left the country, almost 7,000 Jews emigrated or twofold more than in 2013.
