(IsraelNN.com) The Jewish Agency for Israel is allocating $1 million towards an educational program that will "encourage" immigrants from the CIS to come to Israel instead of Germany.

In 2003, 19,000 CIS immigrants opted to make their new home in Germany as opposed to 12,000 deciding to come home to Israel.

Jewish Agency officials explain Israel is just unable to compete with the immigration aid package offered to the immigrants in Germany. According to the Jewish Agency report, during the first five years, new immigrants receive three times the Israeli package. During the second five years, the immigration assistance is seven times the Israeli package.

During the last 10 years, 170,000 CIS immigrants opted to settle in Germany, a number that has Jewish Agency officials disturbed.

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