French immigration to Israel at record levels

http://www.france24.com
July 23, 2007

Around 3,000 French Jews are set to immigrate to Israel in 2007,
the highest number in more than three decades, the Jewish 
Agency said on Monday.

The semi-governmental organisation responsible for immigration 
said the number was the highest since 1971, when 3,281 French 
Jews came to Israel.

Since the beginning of 2007, there has been a 10 percent increase 
in the number of new immigrants from France, as opposed to the 
same period last year with 1,027 French Jews having arrived up 
until end-June.

Israeli head of state Shimon Peres is scheduled to welcome 
two flights bringing 600 new immigrants from France on Wednesday 
morning when they land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.

Since Israel acquired independence in 1948, around 80,000 
French Jews have immigrated to the country.