July 22, 2008 / 19 Tammuz 5768

On special Jewish Agency and "AMI" flights
A record number of 450 new immigrants will arrive in Israel 
tomorrow (Wednesday July 23rd) from France 

A welcoming ceremony will take place on Wednesday July 23rd in the absorption hall at Ben Gurion airport. Entrance for journalists from 13:15 from terminal 1

Three special flights sponsored by the Jewish Agency and the "AMI" association will arrive in Israel tomorrow, Wednesday, July 23rd, with a record number of 450 new immigrants from France. The main welcoming ceremony will take place at 14:00 at Ben Gurion airport with the participation of the Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski, Minister of Immigrant Absorption Eli Aflalo and founder of the AMI association Pierre Besnainou.

The Jewish community of France is a Zionist community numbering more than half a million Jews (the second largest in the world). In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of new immigrants moving to Israel from France, beginning in the year 2000 when close to 19,000 French Jews made aliyah, half of them under the age of 35. The Jewish Agency and the AMI association, in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, have prepared themselves for this trend and organize aliyah fairs in which experts from Israel participate as well as develop special absorption tracks.

Ashdod, Jerusalem and Netanya are at the top of the list of cities which will absorb this week's recent arrivals from France. Many of the new olim are young families; there is also a large group of young students who will be integrating within the institutes of higher education throughout Israel.

The Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski said, "the arrival of hundreds of new immigrants is a real celebration for the Jewish People and the State of Israel. The Jewish Agency will continue to develop new programs to promote aliyah from the West and assist in the absorption of these immigrants in Israel."

The founder of the AMI association, Pierre Besnainou, said that we welcome this weeks hundreds of new immigrants and that AMI will continue to assist Jews who decide to make aliyah and will help make their move and absorption easier.

Founding partners: Keren Hayesod, United Jewish Communities and Jewish Federations around the world
Principal donors: Keren Hayesod, United Jewish Communities and major Federations in North America and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

There will be a festive welcoming ceremony with the participation of the Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski, founder of AMI Pierre Besnainou and Minister of Immigrant Absorption Eli Aflalo.

Entrance for journalists with accreditation at 13:15, Terminal 1, Ben Gurion Airport. Entrance from Bell Gate (within gate 2 of terminal 1)