The former Israeli chief Rabbi, Meir Lau, has said that European Jewry is nearing its end and the remaining communities should move to Israel. In a statement released in Germany, he said "I see the end of the Diaspora of Jews in Europe," and called on Israel "to prepare for a new phase of the spiritual and physical absorption of European Jewry before they consider emigrating to the Unites States or Australia (instead)." He warned that rising anti-Semitism threatens the Jews of Europe, noting that anti-Semitism is on the rise in nearly every European country. The Rabbi cited a report published last week which found that 62% of Germans are tired of hearing about the Holocaust, and that 70% respond with anger when the subject of Nazi crimes is discussed.
According to Jewish Agency statistics there are more than 1.14 million Jews in Europe, including more than a million in Western Europe. Only some 3,000 western European Jews have made Aliyah in each of the past two years.