Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his his call for European Jews to immigrate to Israel on Sunday, after Sunday’s attack of a synagogue in downtown Copenhagen in which a guard, 38-year-old Dan Uzan, was killed.
Earlier on Saturday, an attack, apparently by the same gunman, took place outside an event about Islam and free speech. One person was killed. Five police officers were also wounded in the shootings, two of them outside the synagogue. On Sunday, police said they shot and killed a man they believed had carried out both shootings.
"Extreme Islamic terror in Europe has struck again and this time it's in Denmark. We send our condolences to the families of those killed. They are once again killing Jews on European soil simply for being Jewish,’’ Netanyahu said.
"The wave of attacks against Jews in Europe is expected to continue and it is up to us to stay prepared," he said. "Jews need protection wherever they are, but we're telling you: Israel is your home," he said.
Netanyahu said that Israel is prepared for a massive wave of immigration from Europe. "“We are preparing for a wave of mass aliya from Europe. We are calling for a wave of mass aliya from Europe. I want to tell all the Jews of Europe, and Jews wherever they may be: Israel is the home of every Jew. Israel awaits you with open arms,'” he said.
The Israeli government on Sunday was to discuss a NIS 180 million program to support aliya from France, Belgium and Ukraine. ‘’We are going to create more programs for Jews around the world. Israel is waiting for you with open arms,’’ Netanyahu said.
But Denmark Chief Rabbi Yair Melchior said he was “disappointed” by Netanyahu’s call.“People from Denmark move to Israel because they love Israel, because of Zionism. But not because of terrorism,” the rabbi said. “If the way we deal with terror is to run somewhere else, we should all run to a deserted island.”
The statement echoes similar sentiments expressed by some in France following a deadly attack against a kosher supermarket in January which spurred calls for France’s Jews to immigrate.
Israel’s Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, who also serves as Israel’s Diaspora affairs minister, spoke to Jewish community leaders in Denmark Sunday. ‘’The State of Israel stands by you in this difficult time, ready to assist in any way,” he said. “We can’t accept that Jews are simply shot on the streets of Europe. We will not let Jews become easy targets for anti-Semitic attacks.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said the international community must not just make declarations and hold rallies, it must launch a "devastating war against Islamic terror and its root causes."