One of the dividends of a peace agreement with Egypt will be an upsurge in immigration to Israel, according to a report presented to the World Zionist Organization Executive yesterday by Uzi Narkiss, director general of the WZO’s immigration and absorption department. It estimates an influx of between 35,000-70,000 immigrants in the first year after a peace treaty is signed, compared to 21,000 last year.
But the report stresses that increased immigration will also depend upon improvements in the absorption machinery. It urges preparations now to create housing and jobs for the newcomers.
The assumption of the report is that give political quiet on all fronts, an end of terrorist activities inside Israel and a signed peace agreement, at least with Egypt, there will be a 35 percent rise in the number of immigrants from the Western hemisphere, particularly Latin America, and the average age of the immigrants will be higher. It is also expected that the drop-out rate of Soviet emigres will decrease and that a moderation of Arab pressure on the Soviet Union may lead to on increased number of exit permits issued by the Soviet authorities.
OTHER EFFECTS NOTED
The report notes that once peace is established the time Israelis will be required to serve in the armed forces will be reduced. This would have a positive effect an the number of Israelis leaving the country. The return of Israelis living abroad is not expected to be accelerated to the some extent, however, by a reduction of military service time, the report states.
The report covers only the first three years following the signing of a peace treaty and does no attempt to predict the immigration picture beyond that period. However, it envisages about 50,000 volunteers coming to Israel as a first step toward aliya and a suboptimal increase in tourism, especially Jewish tourists. The report notes that up to new, only 10 percent of American Jews have visited Israel.
The report also recommends special efforts, under the new circumstances, to change Israel’s image from an embattled country fighting to survive to a country where people can live a normal life.
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