Without immigrants of all kinds thre will be no Israel now and in the future, you like or not. Which israelis are you talki,ng about:Nochi Dankner, Tshuva, the 12 , oligarchs controlling the all economy, prices 30 pct hiher than Paris,so people get rich and richer, the owner of Zim living in Monaco,the customs duties protectting the monopolies and the religious, the rabbis and their mafia.. Come on haver. We know this is our country and we will fight for it, BUT WE ARE NOT BLIND AND DEAF

"An Israeli" rightfully feels depressed to have all his fellow countrymen tarred with the same brush. He is right, too, to point out the harsh conditions and the pioneering spirit required to overcome many of them. The 'good' Israelis he speaks of did a fantastic job in laying the foundations of a modern state out of nothing. Likewise, there are some absolutely amazing people living in the country. I personally meet, daily, many warm, generous, unbelievably hospitable people and they are the salt of the earth. At the other end of the spectrum, however, are some of the lowest forms of life. The finger can't point to cultural background, for both good and bad come from all cultures. The problem is that for too long, there has been no emphasis in the home, or at school, or from government, on teaching basic courtesy, respect and consideration for others. The fact that many Israelis boast of their rudeness, their brashness and are the first to blow their own trumpets is evidence that they can - if they wished - behave differently. No immigrant anywhere has an easy beginning in a new country. But how one is treated makes a huge difference in how well one adapts to a different lifestyle. None of us came for an "easy life", indeed most of us were fully aware that standards of living were more likely to fall. We just didn't know how many of us would be squeezed absolutely dry and that the joy of coming to a Jewish country might be overtaken by the greater need to survive by leaving it. It's fair to point out that life has changed since the pioneering days. It is Israelis themselves who want the good life now - just seeing the numbers of foreigners imported to do jobs Israelis now refuse to do is proof of that! How quickly they developed a taste for fat cat salaries, luxury cars, 7 room apartments, designer clothing and only the most pedigreed of pets. So to state that olim come here only for good life is to ignore the fundamental inequalities that have arisen here because of the Israeli dream of more and more material wealth and privilege. What really is to blame is the role of government and the Jewish Agency who for years reached out to western immigrants telling us how much they needed our skills. They promised the world and delivered a tiny islet of non stop obstacles. They showed only the pictures of smiling surfers, happy pepper pickers of the kibbutzim that no longer even exist as such. They told us about tax incentives, reduced housing, great health benefits. They did not tell us of a rising unemployment rate, of poorly paid work, of the need to have near perfect Hebrew or not get a job at all. Even that is not the only reason we fail. We fail because we've been brought up without the hard-headedness of Israelis. We are hurt and deeply offended by the unnecessary rudeness, the ridiculous red tape, the endless demands, not least of which always involve huge sums of money. If Israelis were happy with this state of affairs, would so many be leaving or planning to leave? Yet they expect olim to put up with what they themselves want to escape. I'd escape but I've been squeezed so dry there's nothing to go back with.

As with any other aliya, there are number of people who come back to the native country or keep searching for the better place. Israel offers them a place to live, and if it does not work - you are free to go... or try to find your place in this hot, sweaty, hard working, tough loving, open, friendly, crazy, loving beautifull place.

I totally agree with you that "The problem is that for too long, there has been no emphasis in the home, or at school, or from government, on teaching basic courtesy, respect and consideration for others". I also agree with you that many Israelis are not happy at all with the current state of affairs. There's no doubt that there needs to be a change. The question is whether it's not in the spirit of the first pioneers to make the change, to create the reality and not to give up to the difficulties? Maybe the rudeness and vulgarity and all the other bad things that characterize the Israeli society are tougher to fight than Malaria and the Arabs. I don't know, but to people like me who are the descendents of these pioneers giving up and leaving seems almost like betraying them and their sacrifice and hard work and effort. That's the end of Zionism, we all just going to escape and forget about this country?

People urinate and defecate during the night in Sydney, Australia there is Abigail stink literally when office workers arrive to the city in the morning. Heard it happens also in Paris ,London ..........

More of Europe's Jews are coming home to Israel. KEEP BUILDING!!!

Best of luck to them in their new lives. Any change is difficult. I found it hard to adjust to the US, even though its easier here compared to living in India. Israel also needs a strong and wealthy Jewish community outside of Israel. Given Iran's threats, it may not be a good idea to have all Jews live in only one country.

come to Israel with a pioneer mentality. Ask yourself,how can i contribute to make of our land a better place to live. Welcome and good luck.

Jews are coming and going, all over the place on the globe. The ultimate destination however will be the only Jewish home, which is the State of Israel. The Islam overflow of Europe will hasten the Alija movement, in the coming years, nothing will stop the Jewish people from preoccupying their ancient home, in defiance of the difficulties originating from all over the world.

Thank you for your spot on post. Kudos to you & shavua tov to you. (Have a good week)

Every society has its own millionaires. Like it or not, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Israel is the only country in the world where no one will call you a bloody Jew. Israel is the homeland for every single Jew in this world. Israel will survive & prosper, like it or not!

Welcome to you, Canadian Oleh. Thanks for your excellent post.

Giving advice whether you ask for it or not.. They give it but can't take it back..

So some of you think that Israel is tough, corrupt and full of hard lessons for newcomers? You think that Britain is any better? Maybe you think that getting a well paid job is easy and getting a nice house or apartment is just a walk in the park? Dream on. We have a fabulous welfare system, and have thousands of immigrants taking advantage of our generous welfare but our population is increasing by almost a quarter of a million each year. Can any of you imagine how tough it is to move here and start a new life? It takes years, even with a good job, school and house. Luckily I had an Army background and a disability to help me get back on my feet but my healthy friends have had a nightmare of a time getting established. Unless you are rich or have an enormous income this country is every bit as tough to settle down in. In London people can be rude and polite, generous and obnoxious, friendly or ignorant and it helps to have nice neighbours. What's so different in Israel? I hope you all make it with making Aliya. Bon chance et courage mes familles francaises.

Any change in life is difficult Moving a all family to a very diferent country is even harder No one is naive enought to bileve in any dream It is just a question of security , vision of the futur , ideologies , The question is do you belive that their is a good and secure future for Jews in France ?? Stop thinking that israel or any other country will give gifts to immigrants Israel is doing way more than any other country but israel is not here to provide anything else than a shelter to Jews Not the ritz Carlton

It is hard to live here, and I expect 50% to return, but the 50% who stay? They and their children will be tough, will be Israelis. That is how this place survives. Those who stay - they can handle the Arabs.

Welcome to Israel ! but it won't be easy at first. but if you don't give up. it is worth it every secind living here .Larry came to live here 39 years ago. and loving it

To be a successful Ole means that you integrate in the Israeli society , in every field . You don't need specially a "pioneer mentality" , but also to know that Israel is your HOME , your only home , even if your life will not always be easy .

If they were so Zionist, why didn't they make alyah before? Every "oleh" tells you a story. JAFI can not control quality of people they send to Israel. They don't know everything about each potential immigrant's life. I met a lot of bad people telling their "sipurim" - they were there for Zionism, of course. Some did something wrong in their countries of origin, a crime... In most situations they were facing a crisis, unemployment in their countries of origin. Don't blame all Arabs in Europe, please...hypocrite ones, always find an excuse.

by leaving France, you are letting the muslims win

should live.

As they occupy Europe, they will force all Non-moslems out through violence. Today Jews, tomorrow others. They did the same in all Middle East countries they occupied and forced Jews out. Now all thoes Middle East countries are called Moslem and Arab states, where only Moslems have the right to live.

The job of the Jewish Agency is to encourage aliyah.

Israel's not for everybody. It's still a great country.

I've seen people defecating in downtown parks and plazas in Washington, D.C. I've seen men urinating on the sidewalk on Broadway downtown in the financial district in NYC. I understand this is rather common in some cities in western Europe. Is this true?

I moved to NYC in the late '80's. I couldn't wait to leave. It was every hit a 3rd world country. Filthy, rude, disgusting. Only suitable for those with lots of money. Moved back to Maryland. There's hardly a summer night in Washington DC that I don't see rats running around the streets, in and out if the bushes, and so on, in the areas with the nicest offices. Even see them in one of the nicest suburbs, downtown Bethesda, Maryland. And rude and arrogant?...don't even get me started about Washington...