Some 200 members of the Bnei Menashe group who have been officially converted to Judaism will immigrate from India in small groups starting next week, officials involved in the process have told Haaretz.

About 1,000 members of Bnei Menashe, which claims descent from the ancient Israelites, have already moved to Israel, and about 7,000 remain in India. However, the only ones slated to move here over the next few weeks are those belonging to the group of 216 members from Mizoram, in northeast India, whom religious judges from Israel's Chief Rabbinate converted last year.

All 216 were supposed to arrive here on the same flight, which was to be covered by the media. However, upon the Foreign Ministry's recommendation, the plan was scrapped due to concerns that such a move could have negative repercussions on Israel's relationship with India. The Jewish Agency instead has decided to bring the group here over several stages.

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The conversion, which was authorized by Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, was halted by Indian authorities who were surprised to discover that Israel was conducting mass conversions without their knowledge.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Immigration and Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim decided several months ago to allow those Bnei Menashe who have been converted to move here under the Law of Return.

The airlift is being carried out by the Jewish Agency, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is providing $1.5 million to fund it.

Over the next two days, the Bnei Menashe immigrants will travel from Mizoram to Mumbai, where they will stay in a hostel rented out by the Jewish Agency. The Agency will provide them with a brief workshop about their future lives in Israel.

The immigrants are scheduled to arrive here on regular flights over the next two weeks.

Shavei Israel, the organization that initiated the conversion, hopes to bring the rest of the Bnei Menashe to Israel as well, but that will require government approval.