April 8, 2003
6 Nisan, 5763
Jerusalem

New Immigrants Protest Economic Measures

Sallai Meridor: Cuts in New Immigrant Assistance counter to Israel's Best Interest

Some 300 new immigrants protested today against the proposed economic measures outside the Prime Minister's Office. Proposed economic measures would eliminate housing grants to new immigrants converting them into loans. Likewise other exemptions, which presently assist new immigrants would be affected.  The demonstration, organized by the Council of Immigrant Organizations brought immigrants from the US, South Africa, Latin America, the UK, France, the Former Soviet Union and Iran to the demonstration. The demonstrators carried signs asking the Government not to harm Aliyah and released balloons symbolizing the value of Governmental promises to support immigrants. The demonstration was attended by Chair of the Knesset Aliyah and Klitah Committee, Ms. Colette Avital, Co-chair of the Jewish Agency's Aliyah and Klitah Committee, Arieh Azoulay and Mr. Hayim Hayat, head of the World Zionist Organization Hagshama Dept. who came to express support.

The Jewish Agency has led a public fight to rescind these draconian measures since "they counter the basic interest of Israel," Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor said. "It is a proven fact that Aliyah is good for Israel's economy. Economic growth has followed each wave of aliyah since the '60s. By acceding to the Treasury's demands we would be cutting off aliyah and dealing a blow to Israel's best interests. We would be penny wise and pound foolish. We would be harming young immigrants, young couples and families who need this assistance to get started. Israel needs these individuals but we would be discouraging them from coming. We would make it difficult and in most cases impossible for new immigrants whom we brought here to purchase homes.  This is particularly so of immigrants from Argentina and Ethiopia. Ethiopians would not be able to leave the absorption centers. It is morally indefensible to renege on promises, which we already made new immigrants before they came.

The Jewish Agency together with the Ministry of Absorption has led a public fight to rescind economic measures harmful to new immigrants. So far they were successful in rescinding a Government decision to effectively close down the Student Administration, which supplies tuition scholarships to 10,000 immigrant students. Instead of a NIS 120 m. cut over two years (NIS 30m. this year) the Government has agreed to only cut NIS 5m. from the budget of the Student Administration, after the Jewish Agency agreed to double its participation in the Administration's budget. However the revoking of the housing grant threatens the ability of large sectors of the immigrant population to subsist.

For additional information contact
the Office of the Spokesman:
Yehuda Weinraub
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media
Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile:972-53-927017
Fax: 972-2-6204013