Israel welcomes new immigrants

Many of the new arrivals spoke of a deep affection for Israel

Almost 600 people, the largest group of North American Jews to emigrate to Israel in a single day, have touched down at Tel Aviv airport.

A total of 410 flew from New York's JFK airport, while another 160 headed to Israel from Toronto.

Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has led calls for higher Jewish immigration to the country, met the new arrivals as they disembarked.

Almost 21,000 people emigrated to Israel during 2004.

A total of 8,535 people moved to Israel in the first six months of 2005, according to government figures.

But those figures are considerably lower than in the 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union led to about 70,000 immigrants each year.

Israeli politicians favour increased immigration as a counterweight to high birth rates among Israel's million-strong Arab population as well as Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

'Where a Jew belongs'

The flights from Canada and the US were organised by a Jewish organisation, Nefesh B'Nefesh, which is committed to increasing North American immigration.

The organisation offers financial grants and administrative assistance to prospective immigrants.

Security concerns in Israel did not dissuade immigrants

It has organised four more charter flights to carry North American immigrants to Tel Aviv during the summer.

Many of those arriving in Israel said they were leaving North America because of a wish to live only among Jews.

"Life for a Jew in Israel is difficult, but pretty soon, life for a Jew outside of Israel is going to be impossible," Henry Fuerte, 33, told the Associated Press before leaving New York.

"America is a great country, as far as opportunity, but as for religious life, such as keeping kosher [dietary laws], Israel is where a Jew belongs."

As well as religious considerations, anti-Semitic incidents in the US and Canada rose by 17% in 2004, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish lobby group.

New concerns over safety in normally-tolerant North America are thought to have persuaded some families to head to Israel.

But younger immigrants like Max Berman, 14, looked forward to their new life for different reasons.

"I'm going to miss my friends, but I will be living on the beach," he said.

"And everyone is Jewish in Israel, and I think that will be cool."