“Extremist Islamic terrorism has struck Europe again, this time in Denmark,” he said Sunday. “We are preparing and calling for the absorption of mass immigration from Europe. To the Jews of Europe and to the Jews of the world I say that Israel is waiting for you with open arms.”
Netanyahu extended the invitation after violent acts of anti-Semitism, most recently the killing of two people in Copenhagen, one at a free-speech forum and the second outside a synagogue.
The Israeli Prime Minister did the same thing in January after terrorists killed 19 people over three days in Paris, including during an attack on a Kosher grocery. Another reminder of anti-Semitism came Monday when it was announced five teens were charged with vandalizing a Jewish cemetery in France.
With occurrences of anti-Semitism putting many in Europe on edge, will Netanyahu’s words resonate with Danish Jews?
Chief Rabbi of Cophenhagen Jan Melchior said no and struck a defiant tone Monday.
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Rabbi Bent Lexner, former chief rabbi of Copenhagen, said there’s historical precedent for Netanyahu’s invitation.
“In 1961 Ben-Gurion, the first Israeli prime minister, came to Denmark and said the same thing,” Lexner told CNN. “The chief rabbi went out in the media and said, ‘This is not the way to come here, Prime Minister, and tell people to leave.’ “
People should not move to Israel out of fear, he said.
“I’m a father of three children who have left Denmark and are living and have establishing families in Israel,” he said. “They did not leave Denmark because they were afraid. They went to Israel because they wanted to live in Israel. And I want those people who come to Israel, they should come to Israel because they want to go, not because they’re afraid to be in another European country.”
CNN’s Nic Robertson contributed to this report.
