Director-General’s Report, December 2003
This report relates to all people arriving in Israel, including those already here who have changed their status, and Israelis who were processed by Aliyah Shlichim (such as returning minors, minors with Israeli citizenship, foreign-born citizens and returning residents)-henceforth "people arriving in Israel" unless otherwise stated. Israelis processed by Aliyah Shlichim were mainly from Western countries.
During 2003, 24,434 people arrived in Israel under the auspices of the Jewish Agency. Among these 23,226 were immigrants, including those already here who changed their status. The rest were Israelis who were processed by Aliyah Shlichim. This is a decrease of 30% compared to the year 2002.
Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
- During 2003, 12,383 immigrants arrived from the FSU (making up 51% of the total number of immigrants). This is a 33% decrease compared to the same period last year.
In an analysis of individual countries we see that the most significant decrease in Aliyah is from the Ukraine (3,853 in 2003, compared with 6,632 last year) and from Russia, in 2003, 4,823 immigrants arrived from Russia compared with 6,532 in 2002.
- During 2003, 225 immigrants arrived from Eastern Europe, as compared with 305 in 2002, a decrease of 26%.
Aliyah from the West
- During 2003, 2,906 people arrived from Western Europe. Of these, 2,476 were immigrants and 430 were Israelis. This is a 7% decrease compared to 2002.
- During 2003, 2,083 people arrived from France compared to 2,481 in the same period last year. This is a decrease of 16% .
- During 2003, 2,385 immigrants and Israelis arrived from North America. This is a 17% increase compared to 2002.
- During 2003, 2,698 immigrants arrived from South America, a 63% decrease as compared with the same period last year. The majority are from Argentina - 1,465 immigrants and Israelis, comprising more than 50% of the arrivals from South America.
It is also worthwhile to note the increase in the number of immigrants from Latin America. During this year 93 immigrants arrived from Mexico three times the number or arrivals during the same period last year. 109 immigrants arrived from Venezuela, more than twice the number of immigrants that arrived in 2002.
Aliyah from Other Countries
3,029 immigrants arrived from Ethiopia during 2003. This is a 14% increase compared to 2002.
Immigrants in Israeli Absorption Centers
During December 2003 there were 9,137 immigrants living in initial absorption facilities. Of them:
- 4,852 were in absorption centers. 10% of them are participants in the Selah program, 15% are students, 8% are (other) youth, 16% are pre-aliyah registration from Shaliach in Western Countries, and 2% are participants of business programs. 1,797 of the immigrants in absorption centers (37%) are immigrants from Ethiopia.
- 4,213 immigrants from Ethiopia were living in additional absorption facilities run by the Jewish Agency for the specific purpose of absorbing the current wave of immigration from Ethiopia.
Charts
Statistical Overview
Immigrants and Israelis Handled by Aliyah Emissaries
Last updated: Wednesday, July 07, 2004