Data provided by the Absorption Ministry and Jewish Agency reveals that 19,000 people immigrated to Israel in 2010, marking a 16% increase form last year. Some 40% of the olim came from the former Soviet republics.
"The figures are encouraging, particularly in light of the war of de-legitimization being waged against Israel all over the world," Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky said. (Yael Branovsky)