Israeli banks solicit deposits from French Jewry

[bemildred]

Spurred by the apparently rising incidence of anti-Semitic attacks,
Israel's banks quietly sent over representatives to France to suggest
that the nation's Jews send their capital to Israel. Anti-Semitism has
become a burning issue in the European press in recent months.

---

Sensing opportunity in the growing apprehension among France's
relatively wealthy Jewish community, Israel's banks sent the officials
there for unofficial meetings. The purpose was to persuade the French
Jewish community to transfer assets to Israeli banks for management.

Most of Israel's banks maintain representative offices in France, but the
banks preferred to send officials from their headquarters in Israel. A
banking source in Israel said the banks had been acting very quietly, in
order to avoid triggering competition over the assets.


Haaretz

[Muddleoftheroad]

1. Makes sense

Prepare for the worst, just in case.

[bluesoul]

2. Worst?

Oh please LALA land...

[Muddleoftheroad]

3. Huh?

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe. Having to get the hell out of a nation is nothing new to Jewish people. They have been doing so for hundreds of years. But now, they have a guaranteed home. Being prepared is a wise precaution.

[bluesoul]

4. You have no idea

about the situation in Europe. Just because some poll says that Israel is among those that are a threat to world peace doesn't mean that Jews in Europe are suddenly in danger or that there's a new Hitler coming. Sorry to burst your bubble, but exaggerating would be a mild term for your "fear".

[Muddleoftheroad]

5. Fear has a basis

Jews have been kicked out of nation after nation for hundreds and hundreds of years. Each time it happens, Jews die and those who live lose some or all of their savings.

To ignore the current anti-Semitism is to risk everything. A prudent person seldom risks everything. Most of us hedge our bets.

And you don't need a new Hitler to make life damn uncomfortable. If that happens, many Jews may wish to leave. It pays to have some fallback plans in place.

[bemildred]

6. I think you should send all your money over there right away.

You can't be too safe.

[Classical_Liberal]

7. There were far fewer Jewish deaths in France last year then Israel

both in terms of raw numbers and percentages.