French Jewish immigration to Israel has increased significantly during the first quarter of 2014 and “could touch a record” for the year.

The Jewish Agency for Israel reports that 1,407  French Jews left for Israel in the first three months of the year as opposed to just 353 during the same period in 2013—an increase of nearly 300%.

The Times of Israel reports further:

“This phenomenon is speeding up” said Ariel Kandel, the head of the Jewish Agency’s French chapter.

“We will not finish the year with four times more the number than in 2013 but if the current rhythm continues, there will be more than 5,000 French people leaving for Israel, something that has never happened since its creation in 1948,” he said.

Kandel ascribed the increase to a “‘climate of anti-Semitism’ and the prevailing gloomy economic situation in France.” A study of French Jews earlier this year showed that two-thirds of them were considering leaving France, and half of those were considering moving to Israel. Last year saw a spike in the number of French Jews moving to Israel, from about 2,000 annually to over 3,300.

The unrest in Ukraine has similarly led to an increase in emigration to Israel.

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