Jewish immigration to Israel at lowest in 20 years

[peejay 327]

Jewish immigration to Israel at lowest in 20 years

Mon Dec 24, 3:28 AM ET

Jewish immigration to Israel continued to slide in 2007 with the number of newcomers at just 19,700, the lowest level in 20 years, according to figures published on Monday.

Immigration was down six percent from 2006, the immigrant absorption ministry said.

The number of immigrants from former Soviet countries, which made up 30 percent of all newcomers, dropped 15 percent from 2006.

Zeev Bielsky, the head of the Jewish Agency in charge of bringing in immigrants to the Jewish state, expressed concern over the falling numbers.

Diaspora Jews today "have fewer reasons to leave their countries of origin" as Israel has become "less attractive as a land of immigration," he told army radio.

Numbers from former Soviet countries have declined because the economic situation in Russia has improved and Jewish communities there are flourishing, he added.

Immigration from France has also fallen following the election as president of Nicolas Sarkozy, whose "popularity in the Jewish community gives it a better sense of security." One of Sarkozy's grandparents was Jewish.

Israel's Law of Return allows anyone who is Jewish or has a Jewish spouse, a Jewish parent or a Jewish grandparent, to obtain Israeli citizenship.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071224/wl_mi...raelimmigration

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm not surprised - there isn't an infinite supply of Jews in the former Soviet block countries.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

With Palestine raining rockets down on hospitals and nurserys, who would want to move there?

[mawilson 2,133]

With Palestine raining rockets down on hospitals and nurserys, who would want to move there?

You'd be surprised.

An American (Jewish) coworker of mine quit his job and moved there with his family last year.

He's not the only one I know. Israel is doing very well economically and there are lots of job

opportunities.

Palestinian Rockets don't go as far as Tel-Aviv.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

With Palestine raining rockets down on hospitals and nurserys, who would want to move there?

You'd be surprised.

An American (Jewish) coworker of mine quit his job and moved there with his family last year.

He's not the only one I know. Israel is doing very well economically and there are lots of job

opportunities.

Palestinian Rockets don't go as far as Tel-Aviv.

Qasams don't, it's true.

Unfortunately, qasams are NOT the only rockets that PA and Hamas have (you've heard of Katyushas?)

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

With Palestine raining rockets down on hospitals and nurserys, who would want to move there?

You'd be surprised.

An American (Jewish) coworker of mine quit his job and moved there with his family last year.

He's not the only one I know. Israel is doing very well economically and there are lots of job

opportunities.

Palestinian Rockets don't go as far as Tel-Aviv.

Qasams don't, it's true.

Unfortunately, qasams are NOT the only rockets that PA and Hamas have (you've heard of Katyushas?)

Yeah. They've been around since WW2.

[JelloShotGirl 0]

I think it was at its highest a year or so ago though................................i think it will pick up again...I should stop being so lazy and go there!