Immigration from the U.K. leaped over 50 percent in early 2009 over the parallel periods last year, the Jewish Agency announced yesterday. According to immigration assistance organization Nefesh B'Nefesh, more than half of the newcomers used its services rather than those of the Jewish Agency.

According to the Jewish Agency, 201 immigrants from the U.K. came to Israel from January to April, constituting a 53-percent increase compared to the 113 arrivals in the corresponding period last year. The Jewish Agency and Nefesh B'Nefesh both operate in the U.K., in what the two organizations - which have a history of tense and competitive relations - define as "a good dialogue." All applications for immigrations, or aliyah, are reviewed by the Jewish Agency. "It is premature to indicate a serious rise in immigration from Britain before the summer, which is usually the peak period," said Nefesh B'Nefesh's executive vice president of Israel operations, Danny Oberman. "But there is definitely an increase in immigration and in inquiries."

It's the economy - no, it's the program

The partially-government funded Jewish Agency and Nefesh B'Nefesh - which relies exclusively on private donations - gave different assessments about the cause of the increase in immigration. Oberman cited "the economic and political climate in the U.K. which is causing serious inquiries," and Nefesh B'Nefesh's "much stronger presence" in events and seminars across Britain, especially in London and Manchester.

An announcement by the Jewish Agency, however, attributed the jump to a new campaign it launched in the U.K. to encourage immigration under the banner "Find Your Way Home." Another reason cited by the Jewish Agency was a tax reform passed by the Knesset in September, affording new immigrants and returning Israelis a 10-year tax exemption on revenues earned outside the country. The amendment also dispenses with the legal obligation to submit tax reports on exempt income.

Nefesh B'Nefesh said its assistance program saw an absolute rise in the number of clients from the U.K. as well as an increase of immigrants using its services relative to the Jewish Agency. Between January and April last year, Nefesh B'Nefesh assisted 50 of the 113 arrivals from Britain, or 44.2 percent. This year, the organization handled 118, or 58.7 percent of the 201 people who came according to the Jewish Agency.

This means that Nefesh B'nefesh's slice of the pie in the U.K. has increased by almost 15 percent, crossing the 50-percent mark for the first time since the organization began working in the U.K in 2006.

Oberman added his organization had had to book two extra flights because the amount of immigrants exceeded initial projections.

Immigration figures from other Western countries increased as well according to the Jewish Agency, albeit less dramatically. From the U.S. and Canada, 565 new olim arrived in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 383 in 2008 and 313 in 2007. South African olim numbered 107 so far this year - a 22-percent hike compared to the 68 who came in early 2008.