Communal aliyah model to be adopted nationwide
Two years after dozens of immigrant families settled in the West Bank as a group instead of arriving as individual families, immigration minister announces that this model will be used throughout Israel.
Minister Elkin visited the West Bank on Friday to meet those who immigrated using this model and hear their opinions. The olim told the minister that they had friends who faced difficulties after settling in cities, while they said they felt they had been absorbed quickly and enjoyed genuine mutual support.
Elkin announced after this that his ministry would promote the community-based model and adopt it throughout Israel. "It's a worthy model that proved itself, and it's appropriate for the ministry to invest resources in it," said Elkin. "I also immigrated to Israel and settled in the West Bank, and in my opinion the most important thing about absorption is the people around you – when there are good people, you can solve lots of problems. The human potential in the West Bank is very important for absorption and we have to take advantage of that. I'm glad there is a significant response to communal aliyah. The model you are implementing here is worthy of imitation in other places in Israel. There is an advantage for a community that arrives together to be absorbed into a community."
Minister Elkin added that he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how a greater emphasis should be placed on communal aliyah. "We are in a fascinating period in terms of potential for aliyah, and the communal aliyah model can significantly increase the number of olim, because it's much easier to do together," he said. "It was important to me to come see the families for myself and hear about their experiences and challenges."
