As anti-Semitism is on the rise in France and aliyah of Jews or immigration to Israel from this country increases, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) held Sunday a major event featuring life in Israel ‘’on all its aspects’’’.
Around 15,000 people attended the event – titled ‘’Israel Today and Tomorrow’’ - which took place at the Brongniart Palace in Paris in presence of KKL-JNF leaders, Israeli government ministers, French politicians and leaders of the French Jewish community.
According to the organizers, it was the first time in 12 years that such an important gathering around Israel is organized in France. It was seen as public show of support for the struggling French Jewish community in the wake of waves of anti-Semitism in France. ‘’It is a historic event for French Jewry,’’ the organizers said.
The day’s events included special exhibitions, featuring Israel from Zionism and agriculture to high tech, culture, art, medical and technological advances, natural resources and vacation sites, history, booths from various organisations, round table discussions, a special event in memory of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and a festive concert of Israeli singer David Broza.
‘’The Jewish community of France asked KKL-JNF to lead this Israel Day. It was the first time after many years that such a huge event was organized. I am very happy that all the Jewish community participated,’’ said Efi Stenzler, World Chairman of KKL-JNF, the largest environmental Jewish organization worldwide which has planted more than 230 million trees in Israel and is active in afforestation, fight against desertification, water management, education and community development.
He said that the purpose of the large exhibition is to show to the Jewish people and the non-Jewish people as well, ‘’the new and the real face of Israel.’’
‘’Since 1901, KKL-JNF is the bridge between the Jewish community in the Diaspora and Israel,’’ he added. ‘’We see today that this also one of our main targets together with making Israel a better environment and preparing it for the next generations that will come live in Israel,’’ he said, stressing that last year saw an increase of 63 % of newcomers from France to Israel.
‘’But at the same time, Jews who remain in France must be strengthened,’’ he said.
Raymon Bunan, chairman of KKL-JNF France, said this Israel Day was organized at the right moment and at a time when it is important to present Israel under a more positive light, ‘’ in order to contrast with the caricature that is usually broadcast by the media.’’
Regarding anti-Semitism in France, he pointed to a demonstration last week in the streets Paris where extremists shouted ‘’Jews, France is not your country.’’ ‘’Today, it’s not the Frech government which is indifferent to anti-Semitism but the French population,’’, he said.
“Before the European diplomats lecture us on how to conduct ourselves in our historic homeland, they should first focus on ending the age-old bigotry of anti-Semitism in their own backyards,” said Israel’s Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon who addressed the KKL-JNF conference.
“The anti-Israel chants and the mobs tearing our flag is undoubtedly today’s anti-Semitism. Just last week, on International Holocaust Memorial Day, we saw the latest statistics portraying the large number of anti-Semitic incidents in France over the past year,” he added.
Sunday’s event was surrounded by an unprecedented amount of security forces after anti-Semitic and pro-Palestinian groups had vowed to disrupt the event with counter-demonstrations and other disturbances.’Today anti-Semites, anti-Zionists, anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish are mixed together,’’ Efi Stenzler said.