'Europe’s anti-semitism' or attempts to save Israel from demographic problem
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:
More than 50 heads of state from around the world, including
Israel’s prime minister and the Palestinian president, took part in
the largest demonstration ever recorded in France in Paris on
Sunday to commemorate the victims of terrorist attacks that
occurred earlier in the week. In an unprecedented show of
solidarity world leaders marched Sunday in Paris to show the world
condemns terror regardless of religion and nationality.
Over 3.7 million people took part in the protest actions against
the terrorist attacks in Paris on Jan.11. Moreover, demonstrations
condemning terrorism were held in the US, Palestine, Australia,
Israel and Morocco with participation of over 1.5 million
people.
As it was expected, the participation of heads of some countries in
these actions in support of France also pursued political goals.
For example, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that if
Turkey would be admitted to the European Union (EU), there would be
no religious hatred in Europe.
Moreover, following the terrorist attack in a kosher store (kosher
food - food conforming to regulations of Jewish dietary law) in
Paris, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Jews in
France to emigrate to Israel.
However, President of the European Jewish Association Rabbi
Menachem Margolin criticized Netanyahu, saying that instead of
ensuring Jews’ security, Israeli government makes such statements
following each anti-semitic attack in Europe.
“Each such Israeli campaign seriously weakens and harms the Jewish
communities, which have the right to live in safety, no matter
where they are,” Margolin said, adding “apparently, the European
diaspora of Jews is not a major priority for Israel.”
In fact, when taking into account the possibilities and practices
of Israel in protecting its citizens, it is hard to believe that
Netanyahu’s statement is aimed at protecting Jews in Europe. What
is it then?
When taking into account the statements of the Israeli officials
and the US secretary of state, John Kerry, made in 2013, it is
possible to find an answer. Kerry said in his statement that
Israel’s demographic dynamics is a threat to its existence, by
virtue of which this country can’t secure its future as a
democratic Jewish state.
In fact, given the current situation in Israel, it is possible to
say that exactly demographic issue is one of the main problems of
the Jewish state, since the birth rate among Arab families in
Israel and Palestine is much higher than in the Jewish
families.
Although the Israeli authorities currently deny the high birth rate
among the Arab population, but this fact gives ground to say that
at the most in 20 years, Israel can be another country in the
Middle East with a large Arab population that harms the interests
of Israel.
Proceeding from this, Israel is currently interested in increasing
the number of Israeli citizens through immigration from other
countries.
Jewish immigration reached a 10-year maximum in 2014. Around 26,500
people moved to Israel for permanent residence. For the first time
in history, France is in the lead, as almost 7,000 Jews emigrated
from France which is twofold more than in 2013.
But despite that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged
France’s Jews to emigrate to Israel, this will not cause a wave of
immigrants to Israel.
The reason is the high level security of the Jewish population in
Europe than in Israel with recent tension among the Jewish and Arab
people.
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