The Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, chaired by MK Gilad Kariv (Labor), convened on Monday to hear a briefing from Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, about the Jewish Agency’s activity.
Committee Chair MK Kariv: “We expect to see the Government of Israel encouraging Aliyah to Israel from all ends of the Diaspora. We are not willing to have encouragement of immigration from one place at the expense of encouragement of immigration from another country. Without the Jewish Agency, we would see a reduction of the Law of Return today. The Jewish people do not need an argument at the moment over who is a Jew; our enemies give us the answer. The committee is highly troubled by the data on the decrease in immigration from Russia. The committee is highly concerned by the Government’s procrastination with regard to the immigration from Ethiopia. We expect to see an expansion of governmental activity and an expansion of the budget for combating antisemitism throughout the world. The committee under my leadership is highly concerned by the violent statements against the Reform community in Israel, some of which even emit from the State of Israel’s parliament. I see the Jewish Agency as a partner to preserving the Jewish and democratic values throughout the world. I welcome the encouragement of Aliyah from western European states, but this must not come at the expense of the former Soviet Union states.”
According to data provided by the Jewish Agency, in 2024 a total of 32,281 new immigrants arrived in Israel from 94 countries.
Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog: “We in the Jewish Agency are working to fulfill the vision of the ingathering of exiles, to strengthen the communities and to bolster the resilience of the State of Israel. Aliyah is our growth engine, and the Jewish Agency is the central body that implements it. We have reached about 4 million immigrants since the inception of the state, and 45,000 who made Aliyah since the start of the war, even in the midst of the past few days, during Operation Rising Lion. We have seen a surge in opening Aliyah files at this time—92% in France, 45% in England, 34% in Canada and 22% in the United States. Our emphasis is on rehabilitation of southern and northern Israel. Within a decade, we want to see the population in these regions doubled. Not all Jews will choose to immigrate to Israel, but we necessarily want to see all of them bound to the state with their heart and soul. We will continue to take powerful action to strengthen the connection between the Jewish communities in the Diaspora and the State of Israel. We are working to strengthen the Jewish communities’ sense of security and to strengthen the partnerships between communities in the Diaspora and communities in Israel. We are opposed a change in the Law of Return—it’s very important to preserve it as is. We will continue to work towards the immigration of those waiting in Ethiopia, and for that purpose we will need a Government resolution. We will continue to work towards the continuation of Aliyah to Israel from all ends of the Diaspora.”
Yehuda Setton, CEO and Director General of the Jewish Agency for Israel: “The Jewish people did not wait for a call on October 7—it is taking action, and on an immense scale, through the Jewish Agency. Since the start of the war, we have assisted to strengthen Israel’s resilience in excess of NIS 550 million, in addition to our ongoing activity in Aliyah, in the Diaspora and in Israel. We supported—with the assistance of our partners in the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod and additional donors—thousands of families that were harmed by terrorism, as well as strengthening the communities in northern and southern Israel, reservists, business owners, lone immigrant soldiers and others. Nearly 3,000 Jewish Agency emissaries worldwide strengthen the communities through their presence there, and also played an active part in the international call to return the hostages. We brought solidarity missions and tens of thousands of young people from the Diaspora, now of all times, and we have brought more than 45,000 immigrants to Israel since October 7, together with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. In addition, we will work to double the number of young people from the Diaspora participating in experiences in Israel to about 100,000 annually.”
Jewish Agency Secretary General Josh Schwarcz said that the Jewish Agency had 37 joint projects with 14 government ministries. He stated that the Jewish Agency’s Security Assistance Fund had funded protective measures for institutions and facilities in dozens of countries around the world since October 7, in the amount of about NIS 20 million, including NIS 8 million in emergency grants given to Jewish communities. Since its establishment, he said, the fund has allocated about NIS 108 million to over 1,000 communities, organizations and facilities in 83 countries worldwide, to counter the challenges of antisemitism.
MK Tatiana Mazarsky (Yesh Atid): “Regrettably, the Government of Israel is giving up on the immigration from the former Soviet Union states, and this can be seen in the drop in numbers. From my experience, new immigrants should come for the first year to live in absorption facilities, and then they should be helped to find an apartment for absorption in [various locations] throughout Israel.”
Eric Michaelson, Director of the Senior Division for Encouraging Aliyah and Returning Residents at the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration: “According to our statistics, 98% of persons registered for Aliyah did not change their arrival to Israel despite Operation Rising Lion. We view the Jewish Agency as a strategic partner for bringing immigrants to the State of Israel, and welcome the successful cooperation.”
Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ): “The Jewish Agency has a role to make the diverse spectrum of Diaspora Jewry accessible to the Jewish people in Israel.”
Committee Chair MK Kariv said in summation, “I thank the Jewish Agency chairman for his unequivocal statement regarding the Law of Return. We in the committee are aware of the great bureaucratic challenge facing the Population and Immigration Authority. We are troubled by the decrease in the investment for encouragement of Aliyah from the former Soviet Union states, and ask to place a further emphasis on the Aliyah of those waiting in Ethiopia. Additionally, since 2011 there has been no government policy with regard to returning residents. Part of the awareness of Aliyah and ingathering of exiles should be encouraging the return of Israelis who have emigrated. Alumni of Taglit-Birthright Israel should be brought to a second trip to Israel, on the way to making Aliyah for those who are interested. The Jewish Agency has a very important role in promoting diversity within Israeli society. There will be no Jewish identity in Israel if the Government only enables one hue of Judaism in the State of Israel. I am asking the Jewish Agency to continue to support all hues of Jewish society.”
