World Zionist Organization survey finds that 39 percent of Israelis believe that European Jews need to immigrate to Israel due to increasing anti-Semitism there, while 46 percent understand those who continue to live in Europe for economic, social and other reasons.

Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and in light of the significant rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and across the globe, the World Zionist Organization conducted a survey, which showed that 67 percent of Israelis are worried for the safety of Jews abroad.

WZO Vice Chairman Yaakov Hagoel will present the survey’s findings at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The survey, which was performed by the Midgam Research Institute for the WZO, found that 39 percent of Israelis believe that European Jews need to immigrate to Israel due to the increasing anti-Semitism there. With that, 46 percent of Israelis understand the Jews who continue to live in Europe for economic, social and other reasons.

A considerable majority of Israelis (83 percent) said the state needs to intervene in the labor market to help new immigrants. Meanwhile, 53 percent of Israelis supported the idea of granting economic incentives to employers willing to employ new immigrants, and 30 percent supported the option of requiring public bodies or large companies to employ a certain percentage of immigrants even though it could come at the expense of native Israelis.

At the cabinet meeting, Hagoel was expected to highlight the need to minimize the existing obstacles faced by immigrants when looking for employment. Hagoel was also expected to announce the creation of a special office within the WZO, under his direction, to help ease and remove those obstacles.

“Despite the tough economic situation in Israel, Jews are brothers to one another everywhere in the world,” Hagoel said. “Israelis are prepared to do everything possible and even relinquish jobs for their brothers in the Diaspora.”

By Yori Yalon

Israel Hayom/JNS