Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 04, 2008 Tamuz 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:48 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:01 10/02/2008 Jewish Agency wages battle to retain monopoly over aliyah By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Aliyah, Israel, Jewish Agency  In the latest skirmish over the right of private organizations to process immigration requests and aid in the absorption process, pressure from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has kept the anti-monopolists from pursuing their agenda. Last summer the cabinet approved a regular budget for private immigration organizations Nefesh B'Nefesh, which brings immigrants from North America and Britain, and its French counterpart AMI. The Jewish Agency, which saw the measure as eroding its special standing, put up opposition. Currently, officials in both the interior and the immigrant absorption ministries are fighting to promote the privatization of aliyah in which immigrants can open their immigration files with these and similar organizations. Advertisement "Ending our exclusivity in opening immigration files would deal a death blow to the agency and end our special status in our main role of bringing immigrants to Israel," a Jewish Agency official said. The ministries have been examining the legal implications of ending the Jewish Agency's immigration monopoly. Many officials in both ministries have come to support the measure in the belief that opening up immigration to private groups will reverse the decline in immigration of the past several years. The decision is in the hands of Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, who is inclined to support it, but the intervention of Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski, as well as pressure from Olmert and from other quarters, has frozen the issue. An Interior Ministry spokeswoman said the issue "is not on our agenda at all." Sheetrit's office declined to respond. In late December the Jewish Agency, the Immigrant Absorption Ministry and Nefesh B'Nefesh published different figures for immigration to Israel in 2007. While the differences were not very big, with discrepancies of 200 immigrants at most in either direction, all of the bodies used the varying numbers to justify their claims about immigration. Nefesh B'Nefesh claimed that aliyah from N. America and Britain rose in 2007, pointing to its success, while the Jewish Agency said aliyah from these regions had fallen. Related articles: Nefesh B`Nefesh, JA publish conflicting immigration numbers Gov't okays funding private Aliyah agencies in addition Jewish Agency Program allows Jews to give immigration a chance Sheetrit: Jews should not be granted automatic Israeli citizenship More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Against his release Mother of Kuntar victim appeals to President Peres against his release. Gloom and doom How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war?   1.   NefeshBNefesh has our vote. 07:34  |  Levi 10/02/08   2.   Dismantle the Agency 08:26  |  Concerned 10/02/08   3.   corruption and more corruption 08:38  |  fred 10/02/08   4.   Jewish Agency 09:17  |  Edward 10/02/08   5.   Nefesh B` Nefesh helped me the JA did not 10:29  |  Dror 10/02/08   6.   Jewish Agency 10:43  |  Miriam 10/02/08   7.   Shaliach Lied to Me and then Refused to Talk To Me 11:08  |  Adam 10/02/08   8.   In Israel 15 Years 11:13  |  Shmuel 10/02/08   9.   Shmuel is so right 11:28  |  Dror 10/02/08   10.   aliyah 12:45  |  jessica 10/02/08   11.   JA was useless 12:58  |  Jackie 10/02/08   12.   In Israel 29 Years 13:38  |  Dov 10/02/08   13.   Nefesh beNefesh 14:21  |  SamIAm 10/02/08   14.   JA shouldn`t cry...Competition is good 14:26  |  mk 10/02/08   15.   Doing it smarter 15:44  |  Gideon Reader 10/02/08   16.   Keep the Misrad Klita, eliminate the JA 16:27  |  David Teich 10/02/08   17.   TO # 5 17:18  |  B.T.A. 10/02/08   18.   Jewish Agency Monopoly -HATS OFF TO THE FAT CATS . 18:33  |  Dangalil 10/02/08   19.   Aliya and the Jewish Agency monopoly 19:00  |  Eli Passow 10/02/08   20.   Jewish Agency 15:21  |  Jerri Swinehart 11/02/08   21.   How odd..... 03:31  |  Johnboy 12/02/08   22.   Many hated Jewish Agency emissaries 11:27  |  Nattan 13/02/08   23.   nu. 8 11:34  |  Noddie 13/02/08   24.   Go NBN! 23:17  |  M 13/02/08   25.   Jewish Agency and their programs 05:33  |  Steve 04/07/08

Read & React Shot and bleeding, Jerusalem terrorist kept going to kill baby's mother Responses: 208 ANALYSIS / Terrorist or petty criminal run amok? Responses: 144 Ari Shavit: Strike on Iran is good for Israel and U.S. in long run Responses: 115 Olmert: Demolish terrorist's home, revoke family's social benefits Responses: 151 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort Responses: 82 Rosner's Domain On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless Back to Vietnam Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Why did the US go to war in Iraq? (WTR) Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews More Headlines 03:43 Mazuz: Demolition of terrorists' homes is permitted by law 03:44 Police fear wave of violence against Arabs in wake of Jerusalem terror attack 21:20 Olmert: Direct Israel-Syria peace talks needed 'very soon' 20:16 Mother of Kuntar victim: This monster will be a Lebanon hero 05:37 Peres: There is no chance of peace with Palestinians 04:12 Steven Spielberg donates $1M to Pennsylvania Jewish history museum 04:17 On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless 05:09 Palestinian PM proposes detailed Fatah-Hamas reconciliation deal 04:09 How to save gasoline and work in comfort 21:49 Source: Hezbollah swap to take place next week 19:13 Qassam hits Negev, sixth since start of Gaza truce 22:00 Actor Hanan Goldblatt convicted of rape, sexual assault 20:48 For first time, Israeli rabbi to attend Saudi-sponsored interfaith meet 21:12 Ramat Gan police chase, arrest 12 illegal Palestinian workers Previous Editions Select Day 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun

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