More Jews have left France for Israel so far this year than from any other country, according to a leading Jewish group, reports RFI.
"France is today the leading country for Jewish emigration to Israel. It has never been before," said Ariel Kandel, head of the French office of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Kandel cited figures from the Israeli integration minister showing that, as of August 31, 4,566 Jews had left France for Israel this year.
This was ahead of Ukraine (3,252), Russia (2,632) and the United States (2,218).
"We will get close to 6,000 departures from France in 2014," added Kandel.
Kandel noted that the predicted departures this year were likely to be around one percent of the total Jewish community in France, which is estimated around 500,000.
"In the Western or free world, we've never seen one percent of the Jewish community emigrating to Israel," he said.
Kandel cited a "climate of anti-Semitism that is losing its taboo" as well as economic difficulties in France, which is suffering from zero growth and record high unemployment.
Read more of this report from RFI.