Hundreds of North American immigrants land in Israel

1.00pm

JERUSALEM - More than 400 North American immigrants arrived in Israel on Wednesday, the first of more than 1500 Americans and Canadians expected to move to the Jewish State in the next few months.

Immigration, known in Hebrew as "aliya", which boomed in the 1990s with some one million people arriving from the former Soviet Union, has declined by 50 per cent since 2000 due to Israeli-Palestinian violence and a poor economy.

Israel fears that without steady immigration, the Arab minority could eventually outnumber the Jewish population.

Wednesday's arrivals were arranged through Nefesh B'Nefesh, a private organisation that brought nearly 1000 North Americans to Israel last year, with several hundred more coming on their own.

Two more planeloads of American and Canadian immigrants are expected this summer.

"All my life I wanted to move here," said Yaron Lebovits, a doctor who moved to Israel from New Jersey with his wife and five children. "This is our land."

Passengers on the El Al jumbo jet were met on the tarmac by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has made Jewish immigration one of his top priorities.

"Welcome to Israel," Sharon said in Hebrew. Switching to English, he praised those who made the move for leaving behind a more affluent lifestyle in North America. "It was not an easy decision and you will face many challenges," he said.

Sharon has said he aims for 1 million North American immigrants over the next decade.

In 2003, immigration to Israel was just 23,000, down from 34,000 in 2002. It was the lowest number since 13,000 came in 1988, just before East European borders opened with the collapse of the Soviet bloc.

In the 1990s, immigration ranged from 70,000 to 200,000 a year.

But nearly four years of Palestinian suicide bombings and gun attacks and a troubled economy where unemployment is nearly 11 per cent have taken their toll.

- REUTERS