December 23, 2025 | 09:08 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urges Jewish people living in western countries to move to Israel. The call comes as anti-Semitism has sharply risen following a deadly attack at a Jewish event in Sydney, Australia.
Saar spoke at a public candle lighting ceremony marking the last day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, stating that Jewish people have the right to live securely anywhere. However, he warned that history has shown such security should not be taken for granted.
"At the moment, Jews are being pursued all over the world," he said on Sunday, December 21, 2025, as quoted from CNA. He urged Jewish people in countries including UK, France, Australia, Canada, and Belgium to return to Israel.
The statement follows an attack on December 14, 2025, at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, where 15 people were killed. Australian authorities stated that the shooting was inspired by the ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Israeli leaders have repeatedly warned about the increasing anti-Semitism in western countries since the Gaza war, accusing foreign governments of failing to adequately protect the Jewish community.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Western governments to enhance the security of Jewish people worldwide, stating that it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of Jewish citizens.
In October, Saar also criticized the British authorities for what he referred to as a failure to curb a dangerous wave of anti-Semitism, following a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur.
Under the Law of Return of Israel in 1950, Jewish people anywhere in the world have the right to immigrate to Israel. This process is known as aliyah. They are also entitled to Israeli citizenship. The law also applies to individuals who have at least one Jewish grandparent.
Saar's call reflects a long-standing position among Israeli leaders that Israel serves as a refuge for Jewish people facing persecution abroad, a message that has once again come to the fore amid increasing global tensions related to the Gaza conflict.
Read: Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Wedding, Killing Six Palestinians
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