The cabinet is scheduled to vote on a NIS 19 million allocation in the 2008 state budget for two independent immigration organizations. The resolution is expected to pass, essentially ending the Jewish Agency's monopoly over immigration to Israel.

The resolution would allocate funding to Nefesh B'Nefesh and AMI, which support Jewish immigration from North America, Britain and France. It was pushed off the cabinet agenda on Sunday by security issues.

Both groups have received state funding since 2005. The cabinet resolution would make the temporary allocation a permanent line item in the immigration absorption budget. It would also pave the way for future expansion, in accordance with criteria set by Absorption Minister Jacob Edery, who sponsored the resolution. The resolution would also enable the organizations to receive funds not only for their absorption activities within Israel but also for their emissaries stationed abroad.