Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12
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.
---
Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
