Netanyahu calls for "massive immigration" of European Jews to Israel

by Nasra Ismail and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Sunday for the "massive immigration" of European Jews to Israel following a deadly shooting near Copenhagen's main synagogue, renewing a blunt message that has upset some of Israel's friends in Europe.

Netanyahu said that at a time of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, Israel is the only place where Jews can truly feel safe. His comments triggered an angry response from Copenhagen's chief rabbi, Jair Melchior, who said he was "disappointed" by the remarks.

"People from Denmark move to Israel because they love Israel, because of Zionism. But not because of terrorism," Melchior told the BBC. "If the way we deal with terror is to run somewhere else, we should all run to a deserted island."

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt expressed support for the Jewish community, telling reporters: "They belong in Denmark, they are a strong part of our community, and we will do everything we can to protect the Jewish community in our country."

Netanyahu issued his call during the weekly meeting of his Cabinet, which approved a previously scheduled $46 million plan to encourage Jewish immigration from France, Belgium and Ukraine - countries where large numbers of Jews have expressed interest in moving to Israel. France and Belgium have experienced deadly attacks on their Jewish communities in in recent years, most recently an attack in Paris last month that killed four Jews at a kosher market. Ukraine, meanwhile, is in the midst of a conflict between government troops and Russian-backed separatists.

"This wave of attacks is expected to continue," Netanyahu told his Cabinet. "Jews deserve security in every country, but we say to our Jewish brothers and sisters, Israel is your home."

His comments came amid a tight re-election campaign ahead of March 17 elections. Seeking a third consecutive term, Netanyahu has focused his campaign on Israel's security needs, repeatedly warning voters about the many threats from Islamic radicals throughout the region. There was no immediate reaction from his chief opponents.

Netanyahu spoke at a time of rising tensions with European countries over Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, captured territories claimed by the Palestinians. Some Israelis believe such criticism has helped fuel anti-Semitism.

European leaders, however, have insisted that their criticism has no bearing on the treatment of their own Jewish communities. Netanyahu rushed to France following the Jan. 7-9 killings at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket, urging the country's Jews to move to Israel. French leaders signaled their unhappiness.

"France, without the Jews of France, is no longer France," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told the BBC at the time. The government has since increased protection at synagogues, Jewish schools and other sensitive sites.

Hundreds of graves have been vandalized at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France, in what President Francois Hollande called an "odious and barbaric" anti-Semitic act against French values.

French Jews have been increasingly migrating to Israel, a pattern that dismayed the French government well before the attacks at the kosher supermarket and since has left top officials pleading for them to stay. In 2014, more than 7,000 French Jews left, more than double the number for 2013.

The exodus from France accelerated after the March 2012 attacks by Mohammed Merah, who stormed a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing three children and a rabbi.

Last month's attack in France was part of a wave of violence that killed a total of 17 people carried out by extremists who claimed allegiance to the al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups.

Jens Madsen, head of Denmark's intelligence agency PET, told BBC News reporters that investigators believed the gunman who killed two people in the weekend shootings in Copenhagen was inspired by Islamic radicalism.

A visibly moved Thorning-Schmidt laid flowers at the synagogue Sunday, accompanied by former Chief Rabbi Bent Lexner, Jewish community leader Dan Rosenberg Asmussen and Anders Gadegaard from the Copenhagen Protestant cathedral.

"My message is that all of Denmark feels with you," Thorning-Schmidt said. "This is not the Denmark we want. We want a Denmark where people freely can choose one's religion."

Denmark is known for saving most of its Jews during World War II. There are an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Jews in Denmark.

Melchior, the chief rabbi, identified the Jewish victim in Copenhagen as Dan Uzan, a security guard.

"He was a person who was always willing to help. An amazing, amazing guy," said Melchior, speaking from Israel before boarding a return flight to Copenhagen.

The community had previously asked police for enhanced security, and following last month's attack on the Paris kosher market, Danish police began reevaluating security, Melchior said.