President Rivlin said Sunday that Israel “demands of all governments around the world, and the government of France in particular, to protect and safeguard the security and well-being of the Jewish community.”
“There is an obligation to ensure Jews are able to live with dignity and pride, without being victims of attacks, threats and intimidation,” Rivlin said as he addressed a Bible study session of the “929 Initiative,” which promotes regular Torah study with a focus on social issues.
The President began his speech with reference to the terrorist massacres in France.
“First and foremost,” he said, “I want to express my deep sorrow, and voice my support for the families who have lost their loved ones, and offer strength and encouragement to the Jewish community in France. In the last few years, we have witnessed the strengthening and tightening of the vital connection between the Jewish community of France, and the State of Israel, the citizens and people living in Zion.
"These mutual feelings have been reinforced by, among other things, the horrific attack on the Jewish school in Toulouse, and the genuine solidarity and concern for the State of Israel, which is felt by the French Jewish community and French olim to Israel. In these moments we feel most of all the togetherness, the central bond which binds us together as a people and as a community."
Rivlin's final sentences regarding the possible aliyah from France sounded similar to a controversial statement made by Labor's Tzipi Livni earlier in the day.
“The State of Israel will warmly and affectionately receive every Jewish man or woman, who wishes to immigrate to Israel, and play a part in building the nation and the state,” he said. “However, it is important that this 'aliyah' (immigration) to Israel will not be an 'aliyah' of fear, but of choice. An 'aliyah' born out of a positive Jewish identity, out of Zionism, and not because of anti-Semitism."
Addressing Netanyahu's call to French Jews to immigrate to Israel following the terror attacks, Livni criticized his reasons for why Jews around the world should make aliyah.
"Israel needs to be a symbol for every Jew in the world as not only a safe haven, but also of Zionism and moral values," she said.
"Jews should not immigrate because it is a safe haven. I want them to make aliyah despite the concrete barriers in Jerusalem, despite the fact that we have to fight terror. I want them to come because of Zionism."
Livni then went on to criticize the call itself, which she says will do nothing to enhance the security of Jews living in Europe.
"The events in Paris do not only involve Jews and are not just their problem. This is a global struggle against extremist Islamic terrorism and we need to enlist the world to fight against it too," she stated.
"Israel must work smarter - not to worry about whether they [the rest of the world] understand what we go through, rather how to join an international coalition for the defense of our shared values."
"We are part of the free and democratic world," Livni stressed.