Growing Ability of Newcomers to Establish Selves in Israel Reported

Migration of Jews from Asia and South Africa for settlement in Israel is increasing and the qualifications of the newcomers for establishing themselves in Israel are rising steadily among them, Uzzi Harkiss, general director of the Jewish Agency’s immigration and absorption department, told a Haifa press conference today. He said about one-third of the newcomers currently pass through the Agency’s reception centers and hostels or live in Ulpanim, which have combined capacity to handle about 10,000 newcomers in each six-month period. He said immigration from France was disappointing but that good prospects were anticipated in future immigration of United States Jews whom he described as generally able to establish themselves on their own. He also mentioned the “tour oleh,” tourism of groups of potential immigrants which he said was encouraging settlement. He reported also that surveys had shown that the number of Israeli emissaries sent to a country had a positive impact on the number of immigrants from that country because personal contacts were needed to bring about decisions to go to Israel for settlement. He added that efforts would be made to increase the number of such emissaries to the United States.