New exile – the Israeli establishment and the migration of Algerian Jews to Israel

This article examines the stance adopted by Israel toward Algerian Jews in the period preceding Algeria's attainment of independence from France in 1962. In accordance with the broader pattern observed among Jewish communities residing in Muslim-majority countries, Algerian Jews departed their homeland during the 1950s and 1960s. However, unlike other such communities, the near-totality of Algerian Jews emigrated to France rather than to Israel. While some argue this occurred because Israel failed to understand the community's unique identity – specifically their French citizenship granted in 1870 – other evidence suggests Israeli policymakers were actually well aware of these distinctions. Israel recognized that Algerian Jews possessed high levels of education, viewing them as a valuable human resource. Consequently, the state of Israel made significant institutional efforts to encourage its immigration, specifically by facilitating the transfer of its capital and business assets. Despite these initiatives, the overwhelming majority of Algerian Jews ultimately migrated to France. However, this was not the result of Israeli ignorance or negligence. The mass migration to France was a source of profound disappointment for Israeli authorities, who had actively sought to attract the community to Israel.