Free Republic

The Israeli government is reportedly preparing for the possibility of thousands of Ukrainian Jews immigrating to the Jewish state in the event of a Russian invasion. Representatives of various Israeli government bodies met Sunday to discuss such a development, including the Prime Minister's Office, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, Diaspora Affairs Ministry, and the Jewish Agency. Also involved in the government briefing was Nativ, the organization that maintains connections between Israel and Jews in former Soviet bloc countries, the Haaretz daily newspaper reported. Some 75,000 people living in eastern Ukraine are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return.

Absorption minister blasts American Jewish leadersTzipi Livni accuses communal heads of torpedoing “aliyah” initiatives fearing it would weaken their communities. Eli Berdenshtein Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Tzipi Livni, has chided North American Jewish leaders for discouraging the immigration of Jews (aliyah) to Israel. “It isn’t enough for the leaders to encourage aliyah from other groups, they need to encourage it within their own communities as an integral need of Israel”. In recent weeks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has held several meetings with representatives of the Ministry and the Jewish agency to discuss the goal of bringing one million...

Katzav Worried About Hareidi Parties And Aliyah IMG SRC="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/data/images//2003/03/13/katzav.jpg">President Moshe Katzav fears that the fact that the hareidi parties have no part in the government will mar the process of "Zionization" that they had been undergoing in the past decades. The President also expressed his view on the state of Aliyah [immigration to Israel], and said that potential immigrants must be presented with a "vision and challenge." Katzav, visiting the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem today, said that the hareidim had tried to integrate into Israeli life over the past 20 years and that the latest developments may cause...