IMMIGRATION AND ABSORBTION Aliyah Milestones: Since 1948, some 3 million people have immigrated to Israel. Since 1989, 930,000 people have immigrated from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Ethiopian Jews arrived in two main waves: 7,400 during Operation Moses (1984/5) and 14,300 in Operation Solomon (1991) and they continue to come. Today the Ethiopian community in Israel numbers some 80,000. More than 43,000 new immigrants arrived in 2001. Since the outbreak of violence in October 2000, over 81,000 new immigrants came to Israel. Current aliyah statistics Some 18,400 new immigrants arrived during the first 7 months of 2002, including approximately: 9,800 from the former Soviet Union 3,600 from South America including 2,500 from Argentina 2,000 from Ethiopia 1,200 from North America 1,000 from France Current priority areas: Argentina, France and Uruguay. Pre-aliyah activities Aliyah fairs (often highlighting specific spheres of Israeli society, e.g. employment, housing, municipal absorption, higher education) Aliyah 2000 direct absorption in local municipalities and employment programs Ulpanim Summer camps Pilot tours Programs for young adults designed to encourage Aliyah, e.g. internship programs, Sherut La'am, Magen David Adom, WUJS Sarel volunteer program, Keshet program for parents on lone soldiers from the FSU Special programs for young adults from the FSU and Argentina: FSU olim Na'aleh - High school program for 11th/12th graders Selah - Ulpan + university or vocational preparatory program Argentinean olim Zohar - High school program for 11th/12th graders Atid - Ulpan + university or vocational preparatory program Absorption Absorption centers managed by the Jewish Agency (current number: 33) Some 10,000 people currently reside in Jewish Agency absorption centers. Direct municipal absorption Ulpanim Kibbutz ulpan Information centers Employment training and retraining Support for olim associations Special housing assistance for Ethiopian olim Major rescue operations in the 80's and 90's 1984: Operation Moses launched - brought 7,400 Ethiopian Jews to Israel (11/84-1/85) 1991: Operation Solomon brought 14,300 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in a 36-hour airlift 1992: Children and teenagers were airlifted out of Yugoslavia 1992/3: Many of the remaining Jews of Yemen were brought to Israel 1993: Syrian Jews began a clandestine emigration to Israel Mid 1990's: Following the break-up of the former Soviet Union, civil war broke out in many newly formed states, and the Jewish communities often found themselves caught in the middle of internecine fighting. The Jewish Agency conducted several rescue missions such as Sukhumi (Georgia), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Yerivan (Armenia) and Chechnya. continue on next page previous page Updated January 29,2003