A group of 200 French Jews have arrived in Israel to start a new life.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was at the airport to greet them, just 10 days after he enraged French leaders by urging France's Jews to leave for Israel, CRIENGLISH.com reported Thursday.

At the welcoming ceremony, Sharon appeared to try to correct the damage from his earlier statements, saying anti-Semitism threatens the Western world, without singling out France.

Sharon praised France for 'determined action' against anti-Semitism, dampening a diplomatic spat over his remark suggesting anti-Jewish feeling was out of control there.

Softening his earlier appeal, Sharon says that Jews must come to Israel not because of hatred or fear, but because it is their homeland."

Source: CRIENGLISH.com