Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 30, 2009 Kislev 13, 5770 | | Israel Time: 08:44 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 00:00 19/09/2007
Gov't okays funding private Aliyah agencies in addition Jewish Agency
By Anshel Pfeffer
Tags: Cabinet, aliya 

The Knesset approved Sunday a precedent-setting proposal to fund independent agencies that promote immigration, despite ongoing pressure from the Jewish Agency which currently holds the monoply on these services.

The decision authorizes a fixed budgetary allocation for independent aliyah organizations, effectively ending the Jewish Agency?s monopoly on bringing new immigrants to Israel.

The decision was originally set to be voted upon over a month ago, but was initially postponed due to a heavy agenda. The postponement allowed Jewish Agency Chairman, Zeev Bielsky to put pressure on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to cancel the decision or at least to make major changes to it and for the last month, the decision was taken off the cabinet?s agenda.
Advertisement
The two organizations that will enjoy the government funding are Nefesh B?Nefesh, which is active in bringing olim from North America and Britain and Ami which is active in France. While the Agency has a strategic cooperation agreement with Ami, there is intensive rivalry with Nefesh B?Nefesh, which over the past three years has been instrumental in bringing a large majority of the olim from North America.

In 2005, then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon authorized funding for the two independent organizations on a temporary trial basis and the new decision will make the funding part of the Absorption Ministry's permanent budget. Absorption Minister Yaakov Edri has made aliyah from the Western countries his strategic objective and favors using the services of Nefesh B?Nefesh.

Bielsky demanded that the decision should at least contain a declarative clause underlining the Agency's central role in the aliyah efforts and that the Agency would take part in deciding the criteria for funding any independent ventures. These demands were turned down and as of Wednesday night, the cabinet is expected to authorize at the beginning of next week the funding for the independent organizations.

More Jewish World news and features
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Don't let Shalit die
If Shalit is not freed because of Israel's inspections of bloodied hands, he'll be lost again.
A false Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a neglected city, unrecognized by the world, yet it is Israel's 'eternal capital.'
  1.   You scratch my back 19:45  |  Big Al 19/09/07
  2.   cui bono? 18:32  |  realism 22/09/07
  3.   So the government decided to not fund Aliya 23:54  |  Joe Jew 22/09/07
  4.   hmm Why promote Aliyah? 23:56  |  Josephine 22/09/07
  5.   let private charities compete 20:51  |  manny 23/09/07
  6.   Younger Jews are uninterested in Aliya 00:38  |  Hannah 24/09/07
  7.   dream on Hanna 22:03  |  Jewboy 25/09/07
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Award-Winning 'Obsession'
Watch 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' Online FOR FREE!
Protea Hills
A Retirement Village in Nature Nestled in the Foothills of Jerusalem
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Iran elections
Obama speech in Cairo
The Pope in the Holy Land
Durban II conference
Israel vs. Hamas
More Headlines
02:34 Israel, Hamas pledge to keep mum on Shalit deal
03:04 Ze'ev Segal / Censorship is harming the Shalit deal
04:04 Avi Issacharroff / Hamas influence in Gaza is growing
08:15 Body of taxi driver found dead in cab in northern Israel
06:38 Israel's 'hot return' of Sudan refugees prompts UN rebuke
03:34 Israeli ecologists could help stop global warming
04:41 If the Vilna Gaon was right, the 3rd Temple is on its way
22:20 TV ROUND-UP: Israel may free 980 Palestinians for Shalit; Iran plans 10 new nuke plants
06:18 Nazi guard Demjanjuk to stand trial in Germany
22:38 Cabinet puts off special Germany trip after Netanyahu falls ill
22:14 Barak: Israeli settlement freeze is unprecedented peace move
06:29 Israel moves toward acceptance of lesbian eggs donations
22:07 U.S.: Iran choosing isolation by planning 10 new nuclear plants
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved