Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski with new immigrants from South Africa
at the Western Wall.
July 28, 2008 / 25 Tammuz 5768
The number of immigrants to Israel from South Africa is expected to nearly double this year, as 100 olim arrived in Israel Monday (July 21). They traveled on the first chartered flight for immigrants from South Africa, organized by the Jewish Agency and the South African Zionist Federation. Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski and Minster of Immigrant Absorption Eli Aflalo greeted the group at a special welcoming ceremony Tuesday at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Since the middle of 2007, South African Jews have expressed increased interest in aliyah, resulting in part from growing political instability and rising levels of violence and crime in the country. The number of people contacting Jewish Agency representatives in South Africa with requests to open aliyah files or with questions about aliyah has increased significantly over the last year. The Jewish Agency estimates that more than 300 South African Jews will make aliyah this year, up from 178 in 2007.
New immigrants from France arrive in Israel.
Meanwhile, the influx of French immigrants remains steady, with 450 newcomers arriving in Israel Wednesday (July 23) on three special flights, organized by the Jewish Agency and the French organization AMI. Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski and Minster of Immigrant Absorption Eli Aflalo were at Ben Gurion Airport to greet the newcomers. France, with a population of some half a million Jews, the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States, has seen nearly 20,000 Jews immigrate to Israel since 2000; and the numbers are expected to remain steady at up to 3,000 olim per year.
"The arrival of hundreds of new immigrants is a real celebration for the Jewish People and the State of Israel," said Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski. "The Jewish Agency will continue to develop new programs to promote aliyah from the West and assist in the absorption of these immigrants in Israel."