The Cabinet today overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to offer special incentives for yordim-Israelis living permanently abroad-to return home during Israel’s 25th anniversary year. The incentives, proposed by Minister of Tourism Moshe Kol, were supported by only three other members. Kol suggested the formation of a committee to consider, among other things, the suspension of certain taxes and duties for returning yordim similar to the privileges accorded new immigrants.
Opponents of the idea noted that there were some 200,000 yordim but that no more than 7000 took advantage of the incentives instituted after the Six-Day War and which were in effect until 1970. The incentives were abolished after that because of public objections. In 1971 only 349 yordim families applied for repatriation. Of that number only 139 actually returned to Israel.
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