Israel: Immigration to Israel Introduction & Overview - The Law of Return - Draiman

Immigration to Israel:
Introduction & Overview

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Immigration: Table of Contents | Law of Return | Immigration Statistics

Following their expulsion and after the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 CE, the majority of the Jews were dispersed throughout the world. The Jewish national idea, however, was never abandoned, nor was the longing to return to their homeland.

Throughout the centuries, Jews have maintained a presence in the Land, in greater or lesser numbers; uninterrupted contact with Jews abroad has enriched the cultural, spiritual and intellectual life of both communities.

Zionism, the political movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland, founded in the late 19th century, derives its name from word "Zion," the traditional synonym for Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. In response to continued oppression and persecution of Jews in eastern Europe and disillusionment with emancipation in Western Europe, and inspired by Zionist ideology, Jews immigrated to Palestine toward the end of the nineteenth century. This was the first of the modern waves of aliyah (literally "going up") that were to transform the face of the country.

On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed.

The Proclamation of the Establishment of the State of Israel stated: "The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and the in-gathering of the exiles; it will foster the development of the country for all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex . . . ."

This was followed in 1950 by the Law of Return, which granted every Jew the automatic right to immigrate to Israel and become a citizen of the state. With the gates wide open after statehood was declared, a wave of mass immigration brought 687,000 Jews to Israel's shores. By 1951, the number of immigrants more than doubled the Jewish population of the country in 1948. The immigrants included survivors of the Holocaust from displaced persons' camps in Germany, Austria and Italy; a majority of the Jewish communities of Bulgaria and Poland, one third of the Jews of Romania, and nearly all of the Jewish communities of Libya, Yemen and Iraq.

The immigrants encountered many adjustment difficulties. The fledgling state had just emerged from the bruising war of independence, was in grievous economic condition, and found it difficult to provide hundreds of thousands of immigrants with housing and jobs. Much effort was devoted toward absorbing the immigrants: ma'abarot — camps of tin shacks and tents — and later permanent dwellings were erected; employment opportunities were created; the Hebrew language was taught; and the educational system was expanded and adjusted to meet the needs of children from many different backgrounds.

Additional mass immigration took place in the late 1950's and early 1960's, when immigrants arrived from the newly independent countries of North Africa, Morocco and Tunisia. A large number of immigrants also arrived during these years from Poland, Hungary and Egypt.

2014 saw a large spike in immigration to Israel, with a 32% increase in general immigration over 2013's numbers.  As opposed to 2013's number of 16,968 immigrants making Aliyah to Israel, in 2014 approximately 26,500 individuals made Aliyah.  Immigration from the Ukraine increased more than 190% due to the ongoing civil war and social unrest, and for the first time in history immigration from France surpassed immigration from every other country. Looking forward, Israeli officials expect over 10,000 French individuals to make Aliyah in 2015. During 2014 more people immigrated to Israel from free countries rather than from countries in distress, which demonstrates Israel's attractiveness as a place to live and do business.  Aliyah from Western Europe in general is up 88% over the previous year's data, and Aliyah from the former Soviet Union is up 50%. 

Immigration from Western Countries

While mass immigration to Israel have mostly been from countries of distress, immigration of individuals from the free world has also continued throughout the years. Most of these persons are motivated by idealism. This aliyah gained strength after the Six­-Day War, with the awakening feelings of Jewish identity among Diaspora Jewry.

Immigration from the Soviet Union & former Soviet Union

From 1948 to 1967, the relations between Jews in the Soviet Union and the State of Israel were limited. Following the Six-­Day War, Jewish consciousness among Soviet Jews was awakened, and increasing numbers sought aliyah. As an atmosphere of detente began to pervade international relations in the early 1970's, the Soviet Union permitted significant number of Jews to immigrate to Israel. At the end of the decade, a quarter of a million Jews had left the Soviet Union; 140,000 immigrated to Israel.

Soviet Jews were permitted to leave the Soviet Union in unprecedented numbers in the late 1980's, with President Gorbachev's bid to liberalize the country. The collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991 facilitated this process. After 190,000 olim reached Israel in 1990 and 150,000 in 1991, the stabilization of conditions in the former Soviet Union and adjustment difficulties in Israel caused immigration to level off at approximately 70,000 per year. From 1989 to the end of 2003, more than 950,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union had made their home in Israel.

Immigration from Ethiopia

The last decade has witnessed the aliyah of the ancient Jewish community of Ethiopia. In 1984, some 7,000 Ethiopian Jews walked hundreds of miles to Sudan, where a secret effort known as Operation Moses brought them to Israel. Another 15,000 arrived in a dramatic airlift, Operation Solomon, in May 1991. Within thirty hours, fourty­-one flights from Addis Ababa carried almost all the remaining community to Israel.

Immigration to Israel:
Total Immigration, by Year

(1948 - Present)

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Immigration to Israel: Table of Contents | Total, by Country | Total, by Country per Year

Year	Immigrants	Year	Immigrants	Year	Immigrants
2014	26,500	1991	176,100	1969	38,111
2013	16,968	1990	199,516	1968	20,703
2012	16,557	1989	24,050	1967	14,469
2011	16,892	1988	13,034	1966	15,957
2010	16,633	1987	12,965	1965	31,115
2009	14,574	1986	9,505	1964	55,036
2008	13,701	1985	10,642	1963	64,489
2007	18,131	1984	19,981	1962	61,533
2006	19,269	1983	16,906	1961	47,735
2005	21,183	1982	13,723	1960	24,692
2004	20,899	1981	12,599	1959	23,988
2003	23,273	1980	20,428	1958	27,290
2002	33,570	1979	37,222	1957	72,634
2001	43,473	1978	26,394	1956	56,330
2000	60,201	1977	21,429	1955	37,528
1999	76,766	1976	19,754	1954	18,491
1998	56,730	1975	20,028	1953	11,575
1997	66,221	1974	31,979	1952	24,610
1996	70,919	1973	54,886	1951	175,279
1995	76,361	1972	55,888	1950	170,563
1994	79,844	1971	41,930	1949	239,954
1993	76,805	1970	36,750	1948	101,828
1992	77,057
TOTAL: 3,152,146

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Sources: Central Bureau of Statistics

Israel:
Immigration to Israel

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Israel: Table of Contents | Population Statistics | Business & Economy

Reference History & Introduction The Law of Return (1950) "The Redeemers of the Land" Ulpan and Merkaz Klita Ma’barah Transit Camps Who is a Jew? Immigration Statistics Total, By Year (1948-2014) Total, By Country (1948-2013) By Continent, Per Year (1882-2013) By Country, Per Year (1948-2013) Immigration to Palestine (1919 - 1941)  From North America (1948-2013) From the Former Soviet Union (1948-2013) From Ethiopia (1948-2013) IDF Rescue Operations Sudanese Refugees in Israel (2000s) Operation Solomon (1991) Operations Moses & Joshua (1985) Vietnamese Boat People in Israel (1975) Operation Ezra & Nechemia (1951) Operation Magic Carpet (1949)

Immigration Waves (1880-1939) The First Aliyah (1882-1903) The Second Aliyah (1904-1914) The Third Aliyah (1919-1923) The Fourth Aliyah (1924-1929) The Fifth Aliyah (1929-1939) Landsmannschaften Settlement Houses Illegal Immigration Period (1939-1948) Overview of Aliyah Bet Western Contribution to Aliyah Bet Irgun's Role in Illegal Immigration Berihah Organization British Restrictions on Jewish Immigration Atlit Illegal Immigration Camp "Af-Al-Pi-Chen" Immigrant Ship "Pan Crescent" & "Pan York" Immigration Ships "Struma" Immigration Ship Labor Federation on Struma Sinking Mapai Statement on Struma Sinking "Exodus 1947" Immigration Ship Photographs of "Exodus 1947"

Israel's Basic Laws:
The Law of Return

(July 5, 1950)

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Israel's Laws: Table of Contents | Capital of Israel (1980) | Defense Service (1986)

The Law of Return, granting every Jew in the world the right to settle in Israel, was passed by the Knesset on July 5, 1950, and published in Sefer HaChukkim (Book of Laws) No. 51, p. 159. Two amendments were later added on to the Law of Return - one passed August 23, 1954, and the other passed March 10, 1970.

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Right of Aliyah	1. Every Jew has the right to come to this country as an oleh**.
Oleh's visa	2. (a) Aliyah shall be by oleh's visa. (b) An oleh's visa shall be granted to every Jew who has expressed his desire to settle in Israel, unless the Minister of Immigration is satisfied that the applicant (1) is engaged in an activity directed against the Jewish people; or (2) is likely to endanger public health or the security of the State.
Oleh's certificate	3. (a) A Jew who has come to Israel and subsequent to his arrival has expressed his desire to settle in Israel may, while still in Israel, receive an oleh's certificate. (b) The restrictions specified in section 2(b) shall apply also to the grant of an oleh's certificate, but a person shall not be regarded as endangering public health on account of an illness contracted after his arrival in Israel.
Residents and persons born in this country	4. Every Jew who has immigrated into this country before the coming into force of this Law, and every Jew who was born in this country, whether before or after the coming into force of this Law, shall be deemed to be a person who has come to this country as an oleh under this Law.
Implementation and regulations	5. The Minister of Immigration is charged with the implementation of this Law and may make regulations as to any matter relating to such implementation and also as to the grant of oleh's visas and oleh's certificates to minors up to the age of 18 years.

DAVID BEN-GURION
Prime Minister

MOSHE SHAPIRA
Minister of Immigration

YOSEF SPRINZAK
Acting President of the State
Chairman of the Knesset

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Amendment 5714-1954

Amendment of section 2(b)	1. In section 2 (b) of the Law of Return, 5710-1950** - (1) the full stop at the end of paragraph (2) shall be replaced by a semi-colon, and the word "or" shall be inserted thereafter ; (2) the following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph (2): "(3) is a person with a criminal past, likely to endanger public welfare.".
Amendment of sections 2 and 5	2. In sections 2 and 5 of the Law, the words "the Minister of Immigration" shall be replaced by the words "the Minister of the Interior".

MOSHE SHARETT
Prime Minister

YOSEF SERLIN
Minister of Health
Acting Minister of the Interior

YITZCHAK BEN-ZVI
President of the State

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Amendment No. 2 5730-1970*

Addition of sections 4A and 4B	1. In the Law of Return, 5710-1950**, the following sections shall be inserted after section 4: "Rights of members of family 4A. (a) The rights of a Jew under this Law and the rights of an oleh under the Nationality Law, 5712-1952***, as well as the rights of an oleh under any other enactment, are also vested in a child and a grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse of a child of a Jew and the spouse of a grandchild of a Jew, except for a person who has been a Jew and has voluntarily changed his religion. (b) It shall be immaterial whether or not a Jew by whose right a right under subsection (a) is claimed is still alive and whether or not he has immigrated to Israel. (c) The restrictions and conditions prescribed in respect of a Jew or an oleh by or under this Law or by the enactments referred to in subsection (a) shall also apply to a person who claims a right under subsection (a). Definition 4B. For the purposes of this Law, "Jew" means a person who was born of a Jewish mother or has become converted to Judaism and who is not a member of another religion."
Amendment of section 5	2. In section 5 of the Law of Return, 5710-1950, the following shall be added at the end: "Regulations for the purposes of sections 4A and 4B require the approval of the Constitution, Legislation and Juridical Committee of the Knesset.".
Amendment of the Population Registry Law, 5725-1965	3. In the Population Registry Law, 5725-1965****, the following section shall be inserted after section 3: "Power of registration and definition 3A. (a) A person shall not be registered as a Jew by ethnic affiliation or religion if a notification under this Law or another entry in the Registry or a public document indicates that he is not a Jew, so long as the said notification, entry or document has not been controverted to the satisfaction of the Chief Registration Officer or so long as declaratory judgment of a competent court or tribunal has not otherwise determined. (b) For the purposes of this Law and of any registration or document thereunder, "Jew" has the same meaning as in section 4B of the Law of Return, 5710-1950. (c) This section shall not derogate from a registration effected before its coming into force.".

GOLDA MEIR
Prime Minister
Acting Minister of the Interior

SHNEUR ZALMAN SHAZAR
President of the State

Israel:
Business & Economy

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Israel: Table of Contents | Government & Politics | Society & Culture

Reference Israeli Stocks on Wall Street Ministers of Finance The Shekel Rise & Fall of Inflation State of Israel Bonds Economic Indicators Table of Contents National GDP Imports & Exports Unemployment Rate International Credit Rating Inflation Rate Economic Competitveness (2003-Present) OECD Rankings (2010-Present) Statistics Archive (1997-2000) Laws & Legislation Labor Law Companies Law Prohibition on Money Laundering Law Taxation

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Israel:
Government & Politics

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Israel: Table of Contents | Modern History | Israel Defense Forces

Reference How Israeli Government Works Cabinet Ministries Constitution Independence & Recognition Table of Contents Text of the Declaration Signatories to the Declaration International Recognition of Israel Political Figureheads Prime Ministers Presidents Cabinet Ministers Speakers of the Knesset IDF Chiefs-of-Staff Ministers of Defense Foreign Ministers Ministers of Finance Chief Rabbis

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Israel:
Society & Culture

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Israel: Table of Contents | Government & Politics | Modern History

The United Nations World Happiness Report released in 2015 ranked Israel as the eleventh happiest country in the world, placing behind countries like Switzerland, Iceland, and Canada, but ahead of the United States and all of Israel's Middle-Eastern neighbors.

According to a survey conducted in 2015 by ex-patriot networking service InterNations, Israel is one of the most attractive places to raise a family for individuals who have moved from other countries. Out of 41 countries, Israel was ranked as the fourth best country to raise a family, trailing only Austria, Sweden, and Finland.

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Israel:
Modern History

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Israel: Table of Contents | Government & Politics | Israel Defense Forces

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Foreign Relations With African Nations With Egypt With Jordan With Lebanon With the Palestinians With the Syrians With the United States Israel at the United Nations War & Conflict Wars & Major Operations Peace Processes War of Independence (1948) Suez-Sinai War (1956) Six-Day War (1967) War of Attrition (1967-1970) Yom Kippur War (1973) Operation Opera(1981) First Lebanon War (1982-1985) First Intifada (1989-1992) Second Intifada (2000-2005) Second Lebanon War (2006) Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009) Operation Pillar of Defense (2012)                    Operation Defensive Edge (2014)

Historical Events Establishment of the State (1948) Presidency Offer to Einstein (1952) The Lavon Affair (1954) The Vanunu Affair (1986) Refugees & Immigration Immigration to Israel Displaced Persons Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands Ma’barah Palestinian Refugees Project Renewal Key Leaders Prime Ministers Presidents Speakers of the Knesset IDF Chiefs of Staff David Ben-Gurion Golda Meir Haim Weizmann Menachem Begin Moshe Dayan Theodor Herzl Yitzhak Rabin Ze'ev Jabotinsky

Israel:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

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Israel: Table of Contents | International Relations | Peace Process

Reference History & Overview Founding of the IDF Evolution of Armed Jewish Defense Military Threats to Israel Military Balance in Middle East Israel's Nuclear Arsenal Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) The "Magen" Program September 2014 Change in Promotion Policies New Programs for 2014 17 Miraculous Israeli Military Victories 6 Made-in-Israel Disaster Relief Devices Roim Rachok Program Soldiers of the IDF Chiefs of Staff (1948-Present) General Staff Officers (2013) Soldiers "Missing in Action" Prisoners-of-War North American Volunteers Sar-el Volunteers for Israel Ethics & Doctrine Code of Ethics (Ruach Tzahal) Code of Tolerance Teaching Morality in Combat Acting Proper In the Heat of Combat Morals & Dilemmas of a Prisoner Exchange Joint Training US-Israel Infantry Training (2015) IDF Officer Training Program (2015) Greece-US-Israel Military Training(2014) US-Israel Air Force Training (2013) EU-Israel Air Force Training (2013) US-Israel Naval Training (2013) US-Israel Artillery Training (2010) NATO-Israel Military Training (2008)	Chief of Staff: Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot             First Chief: Yaakov Dori                Founded: 1948          Service Type: Conscription
	Units Infantry Corps Special Forces Armored Corps Air Force Navy Military Intelligence Counterterrorism Chaplaincy Corps Education & Youth Corps Medical Corps Ordnance Corps Liaison Division Spokesperson Arab & Bedouin Rescue Units National Defense College Women of the IDF Iron Dome Defense System	Wars & Operations Wars & Operations Casualties in Battle Humanitarian Operations Protective Edge (2014) Pillar of Defense (2012) Cast Lead (2008-2009) Second Lebanon War (2006) Second Intifada (2000-2005) Defensive Shield (2002) First Intifada (1987-1991) First Lebanon War (1982) Yom Kippur War (1973) Operation Entebbe (1976) War of Attrition (1967-1970) Six Day War (1967) Suez War (1956) War of Independence (1948)

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