Aliya Increased by 22.8 Percent in First Six Months of This Year

Immigration to Israel increased by 22.8 percent during the first half of this year due to the large influx from Western countries, including Latin America, while aliya from the Soviet Union has come to a virtual halt, Rafael Kotlowitz, head of the Jewish Agency’s immigration department, reported.

He said 6,978 immigrants arrived in the first six months of 1983 compared to 5,681 in the same period last year. Of that number, 4,940 were from the West, an increase of 39.6 percent. In the first six months of 1982, Western immigrants numbered 3,539.

Kotlowitz said the upsurge of aliya from the West was especially noticeable last month when 1,460 immigrants arrived in contrast to the 951 who arrived in June, 1982. He attributed the 53.5 percent increase to the desire of families to bring their children to Israel before the school year starts.

American immigrants arriving last month numbered 353 compared to 188 in June, 1982, a 90 percent increase, Kotlowitz reported. France provided 117 immigrants last month compared to 79 in June, 1982.

SITUATION IN LATIN AMERICA, USSR

Kotlowitz, who recently returned from a visit to Latin America said aliya was on the increase there. During the first half of 1983, 1,512 immigrants arrived from Latin American countries compared to 950 in the first half of 1982. British immigrants numbered 598 compared to 456 last year, an increase of 31 percent.

But the situation in the Soviet Union remained grim. Only 102 Jews left the USSR last month of whom 41 came to Israel and 61 went to other countries. During the first half of the year, only 639 Jews left the Soviet Union compared to 1,537 in the same period last year and of that number, only 180 chose to go to Israel compared to 434 who went to Israel in the same period of 1982.