Over twenty four thousand Jews immigrated to Israel in the Jewish calendar year of 5774, according to statistics released by the Jewish Agency on Monday and for the first time more immigrants have come from France than any other country.

Around six thousand French Jews have come from France over the past year -fleeing increasing anti-Semitism, violence and economic malaise- up from 2650 in 5773, making it the leading source of aliyah.

Immigration from Ukraine and Russia is also up, with 4200 and 4500 immigrants respectively.

570 immigrants arrived from Britain, 260 from Belgium, 3600 from North America, 1100 from South America and 230 from Ethiopia.

Sixty percent of those who came this year were under the age of 35, according to the Jewish Agency.

All told, aliyah is up twenty eight percent over last year, marking a five year high, JAFI said in a release.

“"The increase in immigration from the four corners of the globe even in a year in which our enemies tried to undermine our security and challenge Israel's legitimacy demonstrates that Israel is a country that guarantees both the personal safety of its citizens and the future of the Jewish people. Every one of the tens of thousands of immigrants who arrived in Israel this year brings an end to 2,000 years of wandering,” JAFI chairman Natan Sharansky said in a statement.