Deputy Premier Yigal Allon reported at today’s Cabinet meeting that over 16,000 immigrants arrived in Israel during the first six months of 1969, a 40 percent increase over the same period last year. Mr. Allon, who heads the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, said that immigration from Europe increased three-fold this year while newcomers from the United States and Latin America increased by 40 percent. However, immigration from Asian and African countries declined.
Mr. Allon said that 35 percent of the new arrivals are under the age of 19 and the same percentage applies to immigrants in the 20-39 age bracket. Only nine percent are over 60. He said that about 1000 of this year’s immigrants are former Israeli citizens who lived abroad for many years and were now returning. He said there were many professionals among this year’s immigrants.
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