Israeli companies recruit new immigrants amid mass protests in France

Amid the biggest student protests in years and political turbulence in France, a massive aliyah fair was held in Paris, where leading Israeli employers first began selecting candidates before they moved. In 2026, the flow of returnees from France increased by 16% and has already reached almost 4,000 people – the most in recent years.

In early October 2026, France was at the epicenter of large-scale student protests that swept Paris, Marseille, Lyon and dozens of other cities. The cause of the unrest was an acute shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating conditions in educational institutions, on October 6, 250,000 people took to the streets, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and organizers said 450,000 participants. The protests were accompanied by clashes with police: according to Le Monde, 215 students and 715 police officers were injured, more than 6,500 people were detained, mostly minors. Particular resonance was caused by the case when a 15-year-old boy lost his hand because of a stun grenade, after which the authorities banned their use. Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu held emergency meetings and promised to introduce education reform by the end of October, while accusing the radical left-wing Unconquered France (LFI) party of inciting protests.

In this atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety, exacerbated by the rise of anti-Semitism (there were 1,320 incidents recorded in 2025, compared to 436 two years earlier, according to Fox News), the Jewish community of France – the largest in Europe, numbering 440-450 thousand people – is once again faced with the choice of the future. President Emmanuel Macron called it the “hydra of anti-Semitism” and warned of a “resurgence of the demons of the past” (ClickOnDetroit/AP). Authorities have tightened security measures, with the CRIF (Council of Jewish Organizations of France) describing the mood in the community as "excited, concerned but not intimidated.".

An additional political concern: Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the LFI, officially announced the nomination in the 2027 presidential election and, according to Yahoo News, is among the favorites of the second round. His party refuses to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, and Mélenchon himself has made Gaza a central theme of the campaign, drawing sharp criticism from Jewish leaders. The head of the CRIF, Jonathan Arfi, stated bluntly: “Melanchon is a threat to Jews” and urged moderate parties to keep the LFI out of the coalition.

Against this background, on October 11, the largest aliyah fair in recent years was held in Paris, organized by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration of Israel, the Jewish Agency and the Ofek Israeli company. More than 600 families — about 2,000 people — came to learn about repatriation opportunities. For the first time in the history of such events, leading Israeli employers took part in the fair: The Israeli aerospace industry, Elbit Systems, Mekorot, Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot and the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative (IsraelValley). Representatives of the companies conducted about 200 interviews, more than 50 candidates received invitations for further stages of selection - that is, more than 25% of participants found potential employment before moving (Alliance.fr, Ashdod Café). Erez Cohen, head of the Aliyah Ministry delegation, said that about 200 families received personal consultations, and 90% of visitors (approximately 1,800 people) expressed their intention to repatriate in the near future or in 2027. Special attention was paid to the support of the parents of single soldiers, for which the delegation of Misrad Bitahon worked at the fair. Similar events took place in Marseille and Lyon during the week.

The sharp increase in interest in aliyah is also confirmed by statistics: according to the Ministry of Aliyah and the Jewish Agency, about 3,400 new immigrants came to Israel from France in 2025, and by October 12, 2026 - already 3,950, which is 16% more than for the entire previous year (Jewish Agency, JTA). Although this figure is still only half of the all-time high of 2015 (7,892 immigrants), the dynamics of recent years are impressive: after a sharp decline to 1,097 in 2023, the flow rose again to 2,234 in 2024 and 3,400 in 2025.

The Israeli government is responding quickly to the new wave: Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer raised the issue of preparing for mass repatriation at the last cabinet meeting, stressing the importance of employment, housing and personal support for new citizens. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed to develop a special program to encourage aliyah from France and ensure quality integration. As Sofer noted: “Aliyah from France has reached a multi-year peak. Almost 4,000 new citizens have arrived since the beginning of the year. For the first time, we brought leading Israeli companies to Paris, realizing that quality employment is the key to successful employment. The State of Israel is a home for every Jew. Dganit Senker-Lange, director general of the ministry, added: "The scale of the fair clearly shows the need to prepare for a large influx of returnees from France.".

Analysts say interest in repatriating from France is likely to remain high in the coming months. This is influenced not only by socio-political instability and the growth of anti-Semitism, but also by the uncertainty around future elections and the possible strengthening of the positions of radical parties. Israel, in turn, will continue to develop programs to support new citizens, relying on integration through employment and individual support. If the trend continues, 2026 could be a record number of new immigrants over the past decade.

Repatriation from France to Israel: dynamics by year n

Year Number of returnees Change (g/y)

2013 3 263

2014 6 661 +104%

2015 7 892 +18% (record)

2016 ~5,000-37%

2017 ~3,500-30%

2018 ~3,300-6%

2019 ~2,500-24%

2020 ~2,000-20%

2021 ~2,000 0%

2022 ~3,700 +85%

2023 1 097 -70%

2024 2 234 +104%

2025 ~3,400 +52%

2026*~3,950 +16%

* Data for 2026 are given on October 12 (even before the end of the year).

Key figures:

Growth of aliyah from France for the year: +16.2%

Share of successful job interviews at the fair: 25% +

Percentage of participants expressing their intention to repatriate: 90% (~1,800)

Current flow (2026) is ~50% of the 2015 record