Jerusalem, December 28, 2025 — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has issued a direct appeal to Jewish communities in several Western nations to consider immigrating to Israel, citing escalating global antisemitism and lessons from Jewish history.
Speaking at the “J-50” Forum — an initiative he founded in May to foster ongoing dialogue with Jewish leaders worldwide — Sa’ar emphasized Israel’s role as a safe haven.
“We stand for the right of every Jew to live in security anywhere,” Sa’ar said. “But today, I am calling on Jews in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, and Belgium to immigrate to Israel.”
He vowed to continue the call, stating: “We have learned lessons from our history. I believe it is my duty to do so and to enable Jews to raise their children in a non-hostile environment, in their true home: the Land of Israel.”
The J-50 Forum provides community leaders with briefings, public diplomacy resources, and a platform to combat rising antisemitism, which has intensified in recent years, including high-profile incidents in several of the named countries.
Danielle Mor, Vice President of Israel Allies and Global Philanthropy at the Jewish Agency — the organization responsible for processing immigration (known as Aliyah) — highlighted the scale of potential immigrants. She noted that approximately eight million Jews worldwide are eligible for Aliyah under Israel’s Law of Return.
The Jewish Agency’s chairman is aiming for one million new immigrants over the next five years, Mor recently told reporters. However, she cautioned that the process often takes time.
Mor described “push” factors driving Aliyah, including economic pressures, safety concerns, growing antisemitism, and political changes such as the recent election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. She pointed out that some Jews are increasingly reluctant to display visible signs of their identity, such as wearing a yarmulke or discussing Jewish topics publicly.
Conversely, “pull” factors include a stronger sense of Jewish identity, personal calling, and the desire for greater security and quality of life in Israel.
On a practical level, Mor reported surges in applications and actual immigration from France, while the United States has seen heightened interest and file openings, though only modest increases in completed moves.
Sa’ar’s remarks come amid broader concerns over antisemitic violence and hostility in diaspora communities, underscoring Israel’s ongoing efforts to encourage Aliyah as both a Zionist ideal and a response to contemporary challenges.
