Labor Minister Yigal Allon introduced into the Knesset. Israel’s Parliament, today, a far-reaching program aimed at the encouragement of immigration to Israel and absorption of some 15,000 families from affluent countries of the free world. The plan, which was approved earlier by the Joint Government-Jewish Agency Coordinating Committee, offers incentives to the newcomers in the form of housing aid, income tax reductions and relief from customs duties. The program was approved today at the plenary meeting of the Jewish Agency executive.
According to the plan, the immigrants from the more affluent countries will be provided with rental housing without having to pay “key money” or down payments normally required for rental housing in Israel. They will also be given the option later to buy the apartments outright with the rent already paid to be considered as part of the purchase price.
The Immigrants will get substantial income tax concessions for three years after their arrival and will be freed entirely from customs duties on all their belonging brought to Israel regardless of value or weight. Another incentive to encourage western immigration will be the provision for them free of charge of Ulpan-type full or part-time Hebrew instruction for six months.
The Agency plenary also approved a plan under which some 500 young Israelis will be sent to western countries to explain conditions and prospects in Israel and to encourage immigration.
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