Jews who emigrate to Israel from France will have to give up their French citizenship if Marine Le Pen becomes president in spring.

The National Front candidate said under her immigration policy, people from countries outside the EU would not be able to hold dual-citizenship in France.

In an interview with a French TV station, she said, “Israel isn’t a member of the European Union and doesn’t consider itself as such.”

However she did exempt Russia from the stricture, as she considers the Russian Federation to be part of the 'Europe of nations'. 

In the past few years, the numbers of French Jews making aliyah has been on the rise amid concern over antisemitism, although the record 7,500 number of those leaving for Israel in 2015 fell back to 5,000 last year.

An unknown number of French Jews have also come to Britain – although after Brexit they would stand to lose their French citizenship under Ms Le Pen’s proposal.

The nationalist leader has also proposed a ban the wearing of religious dress in public which would also include kippot.