January 22, 2002
9 Shevat, 5762
Jerusalem

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Will Visit the Jewish Agency's Ra'anana Absorption Center Tomorrow (Jan. 23) to Learn First-Hand About Absorption of Argentine Immigrants
He Will First Greet 62 New Immigrants From Argentina at Airport Welcoming Ceremony
Press Invited

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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will visit the Jewish Agency's Ra'anana absorption center, tomorrow (January 23rd) to learn first-hand about immigration and absorption of Argentine immigrants. He will be accompanied by Jewish Agency Chairman, Sallai Meridor; Jewish Agency Treasurer, Chaim Chesler; Director General, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Giora Romm; and the Mayor of Ra'anana, Mr. Ze'ev Bielsky.

Some 500 new immigrants currently reside in the Ra'anana absorption center, the majority immigrants who are from Argentina, have arrived during the past year. At the Absorption Center, the Prime Minister will meet with families of Argentine immigrants, who arrived in recent weeks from Argentina. He will also meet with teenagers from Argentina, who arrived several days ago from Argentina, and who are studying in the Sela program (Hebrew acronym for "Students before Parents," a Jewish Agency secondary school program, that enables Argentine high schoolers to study as tourists in Israeli boarding schools) in near-by Kfar Sava. Prior to his visit to the absorption center, the Prime minister will welcome 62 new immigrants from Argentina who will arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport, in a State ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Absorption. Jewish Agency President Sallai Meridor, Deputy Minister of Absorption, Yuli Edelstein, and Jewish Agency Treasurer, Chaim Chesler, will accompany the Prime Minister at the Ben Gurion Airport Ceremony at the Absorption Hall.

According to the Jewish Agency, some 1,500 new immigrants arrived in Israel, and since the beginning current economic crisis (September 2002) 209 immigrants from Argentina arrived.

The Prime Minister's visit to the Ra'anana Absorption Center (13 Hasharon St.) will take place tomorrow (January 23rd) at 18:00. Entry by GPO Press Card. Those journalists who may not be in the possession of a valid GPO card should notify Ms. Sharon Rosen at –058-8617909 as soon as possible. Those wishing to attend the Airport Welcoming Ceremony, which will be held at the Absorption Hall, should coordinate their visit with Mr. Yehuda Glick, Spokesman of the Ministry of the interior, 02-6752716. Entry via Customs Gate (neat Yotvata restaurant) at Ben Gurion International Airport up to 15:15. all broadcasting vans must be cleared with the Medias Advisor to the Prime Minister.

For additional details please contact Ms. Sharon Rosner, 058-8617909/

For further information:
Contact the Office of the Spokesman:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Fax: 972-2-6202708
Mobile: 972-51-601706