El Al to Fly in 5,000 Under Birthright Project

El Al Israel Airlines will bring some 5,000 young Jewish people to Israel over the next two weeks as part of the Birthright Israel project.

The national carrier said yesterday that it would bring the youths, many on their first ever trip to Israel, from some 20 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Belarus, Russia, Uruguay, Poland, Britain, Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Romania and Venezuela. A group of eight youths from Cuba arrived in Israel earlier this week. Some 300 Canadian Jews are set to arrive here tomorrow as part of the project.

Birthright Israel offers free, 10-day trips to young Jewish adults aged between 18-26.

Executive director of Birthright Israel, Shimshon Shoshani, said yesterday that Birthright Israel has so far brought 48,000 young people to Israel from 35 countries, pumping some $60 million into the Israeli economy.