Sharon Tells Jews to Leave France

When I first heard this, I was a bit confused as to what spurred this, and could only imagine that a) Sharon wants more people to put in new settlements which he can then claim cannot be dismantled because people are living there and b) more seriously, that anti-semitism being so on the rise in Europe, some Jews do not feel safe in showing their ethnicity.
 
But I don't think the answer to the anti-semitism is to have all the Jews leave Europe.  A version of this has been done before with  heinous results. I can't imagine a reasoning man - even one who reasons with the business end of a tank or helicopter gun ship - encouraging it.
 
But now Sharon wants to come to France and Chirac says no, not until he explains his remarks. From CNN:

French President Jacques Chirac said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is not welcome in Paris until he explains his appeal to French Jews to leave the country, a presidential spokeswoman said.

"A visit by the Israeli prime minister won't be looked at closely until the requested explanation is provided," the spokeswoman said.

Sharon said last weekend that French Jews should consider immigrating to Israel because of the rise in anti-semitism.