200 Jews Heed Sharon’s Call, Emigrate from France

The Jewish community in Paris organized a ceremony at the airport for those wishing to start a new life in Israel. This reaction to Sharon’s speech is expected to raise the recent tension between Israel and France. The conflict between the two countries started when Sharon told Jewish people living in France to "come back to Israel." France said the statement was "unacceptable" and declared Prime Minister Sharon to be "persona non grata." Nearly 2,000 Jews emigrate from France to Israel every year hoping to find jobs or avoid being attacked for religious reasons.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Ministry is presenting the route of the wall, which has been revised upon the Supreme Court’s verdict, to a commission. The new route of the wall will be 40 kilometers nearer to the pre-1967 border.