Paris terror attacks: Owner of kosher grocery to emigrate to Israel after leaving hospital

The owner of the Paris kosher grocery that was attacked by a French national who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (Isis) is to emigrate to Israel as soon as he recovers from his injures, according to his brother.

Patrice Walid is believed to have been shot by gunman Amedy Coulibaly, who coordinated with the Kouachi brothers Said and Cherif in their attacks on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. He is recovering in hospital.

His brother, Yoel Walid, told Israeli Army Radio that Patrice "wants to be in Israel, like 50 or 60% of the Jews from France."

Four French Jews, Yoav Hattab, 21, Yohan Cohen, 20, Philippe Braham, 45, and Francois-Michel Saada, 64, were killed in the attack and their funerals are to be held in Israel this week where they will be buried.

On Monday (12 January), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to visit the grocery with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in honour of the victims, according to an Israeli embassy spokeswoman.

Earlier, the Israeli leader had issued a statement in which he declared that Israel would welcome French and European Jews with "open arms" if they wished to emigrate to the country.

His appeal to the Jews of Europe was criticised by Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the head of the European Jewish Association, as it was "severely weakening and damaging the Jewish communities that have the right to live securely wherever they are".