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Interior Minister Aryeh Deri flew to France for a meeting with French community leaders and a solidarity visit to the Hyper Kasher supermarket where the terror attack occurred in 2014, claiming four lives HY”D. Deri was escorted by Deputy Israeli Consul Mark Attali.

Deri met with leaders of the local Jewish community, encouraging aliyah to Israel and the possibilities for new immigrants in the Galil and Negev, which have been designated by Israel as high priority areas, offering newcomers an attractive absorption package.

He spoke of Israel’s feeling of responsibility to all Jews in the Diaspora, and how in recent years’ tens of thousands of French Jews have made the decision to move to Israel. “Our mission as a government includes taking care of immigrants and placing them in schools to integrate them to study both secular subjects and limud torah. Prime Minister Netanyahu asked me to deal with the immigrants from France and to see to it that the rabbinical ordination received in France is recognized in Israel”.

Deri spoke of the difficult security situation at present in Israel, how there are attacks on an almost daily basis, stabbing, shooting and vehicular attacks, but Israel remains strong and firm and the IDF and police along with all other security agencies are doing everything possible. I have no doubt we will endure today just as we have always done so in the past”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)