Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor this week spoke of his delight that hundreds of British Jews have chosen "to move back home" as new figures for the first half of 2009 revealed the UK Jewish community boasts the highest percentage increase in aliyah for any large community compared to the same period last year.

A total of 265 people moved to the Jewish state between January and June, a hike of 24 percent on the first half of last year. That compares to a 16 percent rise from North America and a one percent increase from the Former Soviet Union, while France and South Africa both saw a slight decrease.

The figures were released in the middle of a summer period which is set to see around 300 Britons making aliyah, and amid predictions that a record-breaking 800 people will begin new lives in the country this year.

"I am excited to be in this role during one of the best years for aliyah," said Rafi Nassi, director of the Jewish Agency's Aliyah Delegation in the UK. "The Jewish community here are very Zionist. Olim are coming from various backgrounds - not just religious. The number of people considering moving is also much higher than before and I wish we could give solutions to all those who haven't yet made aliyah because they don't have jobs there. Most people come because they want to raise their children in the Jewish state but the biggest obstacle is financing the move."

But he cited economic factors as one of the key reasons for the current increase in aliyah. New Israeli tax law exempts all olim from paying taxes in Israel for income earned abroad for ten years. "This is especially relevant to olim from the UK when we take into account the British tax laws for those not residing in the UK," said Nassi.

Around 300 people who are set to make aliyah this year attended a farewell ceremony hosted by Prosor last week. "It is heartwarming that so many Jews from the U.K have decided to move back home to the land of the Jewish people," he said. "The traditional British weather or the queue for El Al security could not dampen the spirits or quell the excitement of this group of olim."

Addressing the gathering, one of the soon-to-be olim Dr David Shooman, an intern of Neurosurgery choosing to continue his internship in Israel, recalled growing up with certificates hanging on his childhood bedroom, each representing the name of an individual who had purchased trees in his name to be planted in Israel.

Explaining the moment he realised his desire to make aliyah, the 31-year-old recounted his flight back to England following a brief visit to Tel Aviv to attend his sister's wedding.

Sitting on the plane and watching the Jewish state disappear, Shooman said: "What had previously meant the world to me could only retain its meaning if it could be done in Hebrew, in Israel, treating my brothers, my sisters, her children, and maybe, I hope, my children, too."

While two aliyah flights are set to leave London in the next two weeks, another organised by Nefesh B'Nefesh in cooperation with the Jewish Agency took 150 community members to Israel earlier this month.