'This is the bankruptcy of Zionism'

An emergency meeting was held in Tel Aviv Thursday to protest the planned cut in a number of clauses of the Absorption Ministry’s budget.

Absorption Minister Jacob Edery of Kadima, Knesset members and several representatives of various aliyah organizations all said the proposed cut would harm the new immigrants.

It was recently reported that the Ministry of Finance intends to submit a budgetary plan for 2008 that would see a steep drop in State funding for aid to new immigrants.

According to the proposal, the absorption packages would shrink by 20%, the customs grant would be canceled and benefits for immigrant scientists and academics would also be canceled.

Edery told those on hand that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to intervene in the matter, adding that he did not believe the cuts would affect scientists who immigrate to Israel.

“The issue of aliyah is more significant than it has been since the state’s inception; (the planned budget cut) will hurt Zionism,” the minister said during the meeting.

“Any cut, even if it only by 1% - sends a negative message to the world. We say, ‘If you come (to Israel), that’s good; if you don’t – that’s also good’. I will do everything in my power to have the cut cancelled and even increase the ministry’s budget,” Edery said.

MK Marina Solodkin (Kadima) said that she intends to hold a rally of immigrant scientists next week. "There are so many organizations planning to protest this, because this is something that will harm immigrants from many different countries," she said.

Chairman of the Council of Immigrant Organizations said during a meeting on the subject: "Aliyah is a matter of trust. We tell potential immigrants that we will help them, cutting the funds damages that trust."

Avi Meskin, spokesman for the Israeli Association for Ethiopian Jews, said that his organization supports the absorption minister in his fight against the cut but that alongside that, "we expect the minister and

Knesset members to keep their word – should they fail to revoke the cut, they must vote against the State budget for 2008."

Shoshana Ron, director of the Association of Bukhara Natives added: "This is the bankruptcy of Zionism. The message that immigrants receive is that we are not interested in their coming here."