Immigration to Israel in 2008

According to Jewish Agency figures 16,500 Immigrate to Israel in 2008, 3,150 from North America 500 immigrants arrive in final week of year




Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Michael Jankelowitz Spokesman to Foreign Press Jewish Agency for Israel


The Jewish Agency for Israel announced that over 16,500 new immigrants will have moved to Israel in 2008, 3,150 of them from North America.

The number of total immigration reflects a drop compared with last year which saw 19,700 immigrants, due mainly to the slowing in the immigration of Falashmura from Ethiopia and a decrease in the number of immigrants from France.

The number of new immigrants from North America increased slightly this year from 3,074 in 2007 to 3,150, of them, 2,750 of the new immigrants from the United States and 400 from Canada.

The number of immigrants to Israel from South Africa nearly doubled compared with last year, to 370, and a second special flight from South Africa will arrive in Israel on December 31 with 80 new immigrants. South African Jews have expressed increased interest in aliyah, in part a result of growing political instability and rising levels of violence and crime in the country.A welcoming ceremony for the 80 new immigrants from South Africa will take place at Jerusalem`s Western Wall at 10:15am on Thursday, January 1st.

A special flight from Moscow with nearly 100 new immigrants arrived Tuesday (Dec. 23) at Ben Gurion Airport, to be followed by flights from the UK, US (in a collaborative venture with Nefesh B'Nefesh), and South Africa - bringing, in all, nearly 500 new immigrants between now and year's end.

Aliyah Department Director Eli Cohen estimates that immigration will increase next year, particularly from the West, where the economic downturn will spur potential immigrants to move to Israel in the coming year. Cohen noted that the Jewish Agency would work with the Ministry of Absorption as well as its partner organizations Nefesh B'Nefesh, in North America, and AMI, in France, to develop new employment and special absorption initiatives to attract more olim from North America and Western Europe.

The Jewish Agency is supported by founding constituent partners: Keren Hayesod, United Jewish Communities and Jewish federations around the world; and primary funders: Keren Hayesod, United Jewish Communities and major Jewish Federations in North America, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.