March 20, 2003
16 Adar II, 5763
Jerusalem

HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE IN ISRAEL

JEWISH AGENCY CHAIRMAN SALLAI MERIDOR: WE SHALL NOT CANCEL A SINGLE ALIYAH FLIGHT DESPITE THE WAR

AS OF THIS MORNING THE JEWISH AGENCY IS OPERATING A SITUATION ROOM TO MONITOR ALL DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Hundreds of immigrants are expected to arrive in Israel during the coming days. Some landed this morning in Ben-Gurion Airport. Tomorrow morning an immigrant flight from Ethiopia is scheduled to land with 60 on board.

Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor said, “The Jewish Agency will not cancel, by its own initiative, any immigrant flight to Israel. Despite the offensive against Iraq, the Jewish Agency will continue to bring immigrants to Israel as long as it is possible to do so!”

As of 05:30 this morning, the Jewish Agency has been operating a situation room which will serve the over 10,000 new immigrants residing in Jewish Agency absorption centers throughout Israel. The situation room also serves the 2,000 youths and young adults participating in Jewish Agency educational programs in Israel and foreign volunteers serving in Jewish Agency cadres. The situation room will also monitor developments in Jewish communities abroad. All immigrants, participants in Jewish Agency educational and volunteer program have been fully prepared for any possible emergency. They have been equipped with protective gear and all Agency facilities have protected spaces. The staff at Jewish Agency facilities has been specially-trained to cope with any possible emergency scenario and the Agency employs social workers psychologists to assist immigrants should the need arise (see separate announcement issued earlier).

Jewish Agency offices abroad stand by to assist immigrants whose flights may have been canceled by foreign airlines.

For further information and requests to interview with Jewish Agency representatives abroad, in Israel or new immigrants at Agency facilities or volunteers in Agency volunteer programs,

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