200 French Jewish olim arrive on special flight by Jenny Hazan and Tia Goldenberg July 28, 2004 Jerusalem Post With AP Just 10 days after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon enraged French leaders by urging Frances Jews to leave for Israel, a group of 200 French Jews arrived to start a new life here, with Sharon at the airport to greet them. Emerging from the plane, happy immigrants danced and sang "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem." A heavyset man with a beard, dressed in a white shirt and skullcap, danced a solo jig, his arms above his head. Carol Ben Guigui, 41, carried a little dog in her arms. "In five or 10 years, all the Jews of France will be in Israel because of anti-Semitism," she said. The group included 50 children and 55 university students, according to the Jewish Agency. At a welcoming ceremony, Sharon appeared to try to correct the damage from his earlier statements. He said "anti-Semitism threatens the Western world," without singling out France. He continued, "We therefore very much appreciate the determined actions of the French government, as well as the French president's stand against anti-Semitism. We hope that his determination will serve as an example to other countries as well." Softening his appeal to French Jews to leave based on anti-Semitism, Sharon said, "Jews must come to Israel not because of hatred or fear. Jews must immigrate because it is their homeland. Welcome to Israel, Sharon said, welcome home." He added, "Israel is the only place on earth in which Jewish people can live a Jewish life in iits fullest sense. Only here can you be safe, and your children and grandchildren for ever. Today when you leave the airport you will take the first steps towards your new life in the Jewish homeland. I know the decision to leave home, family and friends ws not easy. I promise you that we intend to do everything in our power to assist you in being absorbed into Israeli society." About half of the newcomers came as part of a new government community immigration program which brings French Jewish groups who share common geographical or professional backgrounds. The project was initiated a year ago and even the others on board Wednesday's flight from Paris started planning to emigrate long before Sharon's speech last week, Immigrant Absorption Ministry officials say. In his July 18 speech to visiting Jewish American leaders, Sharon told them that France was host to the "wildest anti-Semitism." "If I have to advocate to our brothers in France, I will tell them one thing, move to Israel, as early as possible," Sharon said. Opposition leader Shimon Peres said, "Aliya is a historical process more than a political one. You dont have to be against France in order to be for Israel. You dont have to criticize anybody else in order to make Jews come to Israel." The immigrants, mainly from Paris, were given a warm reception by volunteers from Unifan, the immigration and absorption aid society for French immigrants. Eliann Krief came to the airport to meet his fiance, Hanna Haddad, whom he had not seen for six months. Krief, who has been in Israel for four years, said, "I couldnt wait to see her. It's the beginning of a new life. Haddad said, Like anyone else who enters a new country, you dont know what will happen." Yoan Abelanski and Mical Coquatrix, both 20, have come to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Abelanski said that here in Israel "we feel at home." Coquatrix added, "This reception is engraved on our minds." Ben Guigui commented that when she was in France she hid her star of David necklace. "As soon as I boarded the plane, I took it out, and I am proud of it," she said.