This report relates to all people arriving in Israel, including those already here who were changing 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.

Between January - October 2005, 18,256  people arrived in Israel under the auspices of the Jewish Agency, a 1% increase compared to the same period last year. Among these 16,954 were immigrants (including those who willingly changed their status and those who have had citizenship conferred on them). The rest were Israelis who were processed by Aliyah Shlichim. 

Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

• Between January - October 2005, 7,270 immigrants arrived from the FSU (making up 40% of the total number of immigrants) a 10% decrease compared to the same period last year. The majority of immigrants coming from the Former Soviet Union are from Russia. 3,150 immigrants arrived from Russia, a little less compared to the number of immigrants that arrived during the same period last year. 1,840 immigrants arrived from Ukraine, a 24% decrease compared to the same period last year.
• Between January - October 2005, 258 immigrants arrived from Eastern Europe, a little less compared to the number of immigrants that arrived during the same period last year.

Aliyah from the West

• Between January - October 2005, 3,439 people arrived from Western Europe. Of these, 2,871 were immigrants and 568 were Israelis. This is a 18% increase compared to the same period last year. (An increase of 16% in the number of new immigrants and a 16% increase in the number of Israelis).
• 2,590 immigrants arrived from France, compared with 2,118 that arrived during the same period last year (an increase of 20%).
• 2,407 immigrants and Israelis arrived between January - October 2005 from North America, compared to 2,151 that arrived during the same period last year (an increase of 12%).
• 1,363 immigrants and Israelis arrived from South America, compared to 1,058 that arrived during the same period last year (an increase of 29%). The increase in immigration is particularly evident in the following countries: 238 immigrants arrived from Peru, compared to 75 that arrived during the same period last year, 124 immigrants arrived from Columbia, compared to 50 that arrived during the same period last year, 101 immigrants arrived from Venezuela, compared to 83 that arrived during the same period last year. 268 immigrants arrived from Brazil, compared to 208 that arrived during the same period last year (an increase of 29%).

Aliyah from Other Countries

Immigrants in Israeli Absorption Centers

1. 4,591 were in absorption centers. 10% of them are participants in the Selah program, 90% are students, 8% are (other) youth, 19% are pre-aliyah registration from Shaliach in Western Countries, and 5% are participants of business programs. 1,913 of the immigrants in absorption centers (42%) are immigrants from Ethiopia.
2. An additional 5,460 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

Immigrants and Israelis Handled by Aliyah Emissaries (PDF 48K*)