Many of the new arrivals spoke of a deep
affection for Israel |
Almost
600 people, the largest group of North American Jews to emigrate to
Israel in a single day, have touched down at Tel Aviv airport.
A total of 410 flew from New York's JFK airport, while another
160 headed to Israel from Toronto.
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has led calls for
higher Jewish immigration to the country, met the new arrivals as
they disembarked.
Almost 21,000 people emigrated to Israel during 2004.
A total of 8,535 people moved to Israel in the first six months
of 2005, according to government figures.
But those figures are considerably lower than in the 1990s, when
the collapse of the Soviet Union led to about 70,000 immigrants each
year.
Israeli politicians favour increased immigration as a
counterweight to high birth rates among Israel's million-strong Arab
population as well as Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
'Where a Jew belongs'
The flights from Canada and the US were organised by a Jewish
organisation, Nefesh B'Nefesh, which is committed to increasing
North American immigration.
The organisation offers financial grants and administrative
assistance to prospective immigrants.
Security concerns in Israel did not dissuade
immigrants |
It
has organised four more charter flights to carry North American
immigrants to Tel Aviv during the summer.
Many of those arriving in Israel said they were leaving North
America because of a wish to live only among Jews.
"Life for a Jew in Israel is difficult, but pretty soon, life for
a Jew outside of Israel is going to be impossible," Henry Fuerte,
33, told the Associated Press before leaving New York.
"America is a great country, as far as opportunity, but as for
religious life, such as keeping kosher [dietary laws], Israel is
where a Jew belongs."
As well as religious considerations, anti-Semitic incidents in
the US and Canada rose by 17% in 2004, according to the
Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish lobby group.
New concerns over safety in normally-tolerant North America are
thought to have persuaded some families to head to Israel.
But younger immigrants like Max Berman, 14, looked forward to
their new life for different reasons.
"I'm going to miss my friends, but I will be living on the
beach," he said.
"And everyone is Jewish in Israel, and I think that will be
cool."
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