LEXI LANDSMAN

THE Jewish Agency for Israel has reported a 17 per cent increase in aliyah from around the world in 2009 compared with 2008.

Despite the global jump to 16,200 olim, Australia and New Zealand’s combined figures only increased by 1.7 per cent -– with 180 people making aliyah in 2009, compared to 177 in 2008, and 132 people in 2007.

However, federal aliyah shaliach Oren Sella said the number of Australian immigrants is at its highest since 1983, and he remained positive that there would be greater growth in 2010.

“This year we expect more than 200 olim because, for the first quarter of 2010, we have already finalised almost double the number of olim from this time last year,” said Sella.

Robbie Franco, the executive director of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said that although the jump between 2008 and 2009 is not significant, Australian aliyah figures have shown “phenomenal growth” over the past decade, increasing by 80 per cent.

Despite a number of conflicts -– in Lebanon, Gaza and the Second Intifada -– and ongoing political instability in the region over the past decade, he insisted that Zionist feeling in Australia has never been stronger.

“There is a changing perception in Australia that Israel is not only a great place to visit, but also a great place to live,” Franco said.

“Israel is on the doorstep of Europe, a relatively short flight to the USA, a world leader in high technology and start-ups, bursting with creativity and excellence in the arts, and offers leading international institutions of higher learning and a thriving and booming economy. And to top it all, Jewish education is free.”

The largest growth in immigration to Israel was from Eastern Europe, with a 27 per cent hike on 2008 numbers. This was followed by the former Soviet Union, with a 22 per cent rise, and North America, where 17 per cent more people made aliyah than in the previous 12 months.

Elsewhere, 835 Britons made aliyah, 325 Argentines left South America for Israel, while 38 Spaniards and 57 Scandinavians also moved to the Jewish State.

Immigration from Ethiopia – which was excluded from the overall figures – dropped this year to under 300, but is expected to rise to 2008 levels, of approximately 1500 immigrants, in 2010.

“Every new immigrant strengthens the country and is a strategic asset to Israel,” Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky said at a press conference in Jerusalem last week announcing the immigration data.

In 2009, special arrangements were made to bring Jews to Israel from sensitive regions: 47 Jews were brought to Israel from Yemen, 25 from Morocco, 13 from Tunisia, three from Lebanon and 90 others from several additional countries.

In the last week of 2009, 400 new immigrants arrived in Israel – 200 from North America and 210 from South Africa, France and the UK on Jewish Agency-arranged flights.

The Jewish Agency, established in 1929, facilitates immigration and builds Jewish identity by strengthening the connection of Jews around the world to Israel.