French political turmoil may affect Olim with restrictions on transferring money out of country
According to Sankar-Langa, France's economic crisis is a significant factor behind growing interest in aliyah, no less than antisemitism.
The Israeli Aliyah and Integration Ministry is preparing for potential restrictions on money transfers from France that could impact plans for French Jews to immigrate to Israel. The ministry's director-general, Dganit Sankar-Langa, told Walla that the government may impose capital transfer restrictions following the upcoming French elections.
This concern stems from France's high debt-to-GDP ratio and economic protests. The ministry is preparing to assist immigrants with tax advice, pension advice, and financial guidance. France has seen a surge in immigration to Israel, with approximately 3,400 Jews moving to Israel from France in 2025 and over 4,000 since the beginning of 2026, a nearly 50% increase compared to the same period last year.
This year, France is expected to send about 4,000 immigrants to Israel, significantly lower than North America's expected 4,000. At recent aliyah fairs in Paris, over 600 households, representing approximately 2,000 people, expressed a strong desire to immigrate to Israel immediately or during 2027. Many French Jews are now more cautious about openly expressing their Jewish identity and face growing political polarization, with extreme right and left factions.
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