Mar. 23, 2004
Q & A with Minister Tzipi Livni

Myriam Rabaste, Grenoble: My parents were born during World War II. They both were abandoned and we have been cut off from the Jewish community in France ever since. I would like to know if there is any chance for me to be able to immigrate, legally, to Israel, even though I have no paper proving I am Jew. I would think there are a lot of people like me, and I would like to know what the policy is for people like me.

Minister Tzipi Livni:The State of Israel makes every effort to bring to Israel Jews and their family members. In your case, I would recommend checking in your city’s listings details regarding your parents past: where were they abandoned and by whom, where were they found and who adopted them. Did you ever try checking this with the lists of the Jewish community? I would also recommend you get in touch with a Jewish Agency representative (perhaps in Lyon) and with the local Jewish community, which most probably has some experience with similar cases.

Michael Jourdan, Saratoga Springs, USA: I am 81 and my wife is 70. Our health is okay for our age and we can support ourselves. Are you interested in old immigrants coming to Israel?

Minister Tzipi Livni:The State of Israel is more than happy to receive any new immigrant, regardless of his or her age. We would be happy if you were to decide to make Aliya to Israel. I would recommend that you go and ask the details of immigration to Israel with an immigration emissary at the Aliya Center closest to your home. You can look up the address at: www.jafi.org.il.

Colin Shepherd: Is DNA testing currently being used to establish right to return?

Minister Tzipi Livni:The Law of Return grants the right of immigration to Israel to Jews, their children, their grandchildren and their partners. The proof needed is usually based upon marriage and being part of a Jewish community. Israel’s Interior Ministry has a right to ask for other kinds of proof, if needed.

Stephen Asbel, Media, PA: The people known as the Falash Mura in Ethiopia and the Bnei Menashe in India have been recognized as being part of the people of Israel. Why are there continuing delays and stoppages in the process of bringing them home to Israel?

Minister Tzipi Livni: In February 2003, the government decided to create a special minister’s committee to deal with the bringing of the Falash Mura to Israel. Interior Minister Avraham Poraz was appointed as head of the committee, which is to make decisions regarding bringing the Falash Mura and the sources of funding needed for such an operation. A particular governmental decision was needed because the Falash Mura, unlike other Ethiopian Jews, converted to Christianity and therefore are not included in the Law of Return, which gives the right of immigration for every Jew along with non-Jewish family members. The Law of Return is color blind, and disregards origin and skin color. It is important to note that anyone (from Europe, Russia, America or any other country) in a similar state to the Falash Mura would not have been permitted to immigrate to Israel as part of the Law of Return. However, the government decided to allow the immigration of the Falash Mura as an act of positive discrimination and beyond the confines of law. This was never done in regards to any other group in the world. The Falash Mura entered Israel not due to the Law of Return but as part of the Law of Entering Israel. The rights that this group receives in Israel also points the discrimination is for, and not against, this specific group. In checking the group interested in coming to Israel, the state discovered that some do not live up the criteria set by the government and Israel’s Chief Rabbi and are not of the seed of Israel. The government’s most recent decision on the matter is that state representatives along with the Kases, or religious leaders, of the Ethiopian community in Israel will examine the list and decide who will be allowed to immigrate to Israel.

Adam Salkin, Leicester, UK: Has the integration of Natan Sharansky’s immigrant party (Yisrael b’Aliyah) into Likud had any major policy or ideological implications for your party? And, What do you consider to be the most promising resource of potential Olim in future years?

Minister Tzipi Livni:The integration of the two parties has not yet taken place. Regarding your second question, the source of thousands of new Olim is mostly in North America and Western Europe, where most of world Jewry lives.

Esteban Bromberg, Buenos Aires, Argentina: There are more than 70.000 Argentineans living in Israel. In 2002, 7,000 Argentineans Jews made Aliyah. In the following year, 2003, only 1200 emigrated to Israel. How do you explain the drop of Argentineans Olim (immigrants) at the present?

Minister Tzipi Livni: The number of Argentinean immigrants who arrived to Israel in 2002 was exceptionally high because of the situation which developed in Argentina at the time. Since than, the situation has stabled, as have the numbers of immigrants. The Jewish Agency and the Israeli government intend to increase activities to encourage Aliya from Argentina as well as working to improve the absorption of those who already immigrated to Israel.

Zak Akkerman-Feig, New York: What efforts are being made by your office to help the Iranian Jewish community come to Israel?

Minister Tzipi Livni: The Immigration Absorption Ministry does not operate outside the borders of the State of Israel, especially in regards to the country you were asking about.

Yochanan Benaloyo, Tennessee, USA: I have found out that I have Jewish blood within my mother’s family but, since I am not able to prove it in order to get the Israeli citizenship, my question is: If I want to immigrate to Israel in order to live there permanently along with my family, what can I do?

Minister Tzipi Livni: Official answers regarding the possibility of immigrating to Israel are given by Jewish Agency Aliya emissaries at the various Aliya Centers. The Israeli Consulates abroad can also provide answers regarding the different possibilities and the needed proof and papers. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you soon in Israel.

Sergio Kininsberg, Sao Paulo, Brazil: I am 56 years old my wife is 49 years old, both working in telecommunication and architectural. We would like to know what benefits we are entitled for in relation with eventually making Aliya — social security, health ,credit to buy a home , retirement, in the future. etc.

Minister Tzipi Livni: New immigrants are entitled to financial aid, including medical insurance, during the first six months following their immigration. Following the first six months, the Immigration Absorption Ministry gives aid in numerous ways, among them finding a job and paying rent. The success of your absorption will depend primarily on your ability and will to learn Hebrew. Because of your age it is difficult to know what pension possibilities you have. You may be entitled to National Security allowances alone, upon your retirement. If you have pension rights in your country of origin, keep them and you will be able to receive them once you retire. More elaborate information can be found on the Immigration Absorption Ministry’s website — www.moia.gov.il (in several languages) — and at the Jewish Agency’s local Aliya emissary

Renee Ofner, Ramat Gan, Israel: I made aliyah in 1992 at the age of 32. I found work easily and was able to settle down here quite easily. However, with the recent downturn in the economy I have found myself in the position of being laid off. I see many jobs being offered to new immigrants with the requirement that they be in the country for less than 10 years. I can appreciate that those just making Aliya now need extra help in finding work, but feel that I am being left out in the cold since I also need that assistance. If I can’t earn a living I simply cannot stay, regardless of how long I’ve been in the country. Is there any chance that the 10 year limit will be lifted on these job offerings?

Minister Tzipi Livni: I more than understand your distress, which, unfortunately, is shared by many Israelis. As a general rule, the responsibility for such matters lies in the hands of the Employment Service. However, you do have a right to appeal to the Immigration Absorption Ministry’s Appeals Committee and ask them to make an exceptional rule and grant you the rights of a new immigrant. Good luck.

Efrayim Nudman, White Plains, NY, USA: If the government claims Aliya is a priority, why is it making it harder financially for Olim, by increasing taxes on foreign investments they might have, pensions, etc, and by decreasing benefits (tax and others)? That is clearly not going to foster Aliya from wealthier countries like the US and Europe (i.e. France), which are the only major reservoirs of Jewish communities left.

Minister Tzipi Livni: What you are saying is true, though the budget cuts that you mentioned are relatively minor in comparison to the budget cuts which were imposed on Israeli citizens in the past year. It is important to point out that two years ago the government decided to grant the Absorption Basket also to immigrants from the West, who were not given the basket till then. This is a far more meaningful benefit than the cuts you mentioned. Having said that, I would like to believe that Jews who wish to make Aliya do not make their decision based on economic considerations alone.

Sean Shepherd, Portales: Can a person immigrate to Israel before converting to Judaism?

Minister Tzipi Livni: The Law of Return enables immigration to Israel to Jews, their children, their grandchildren and their partners.

Laura Hoffman, Swampscott: If I make Aliya after my son turns 18, how much time can he stay in Israel visiting with me or studying without his making Aliya and how much time can I travel to the USA each year to spend time with my children?

Minister Tzipi Livni: If you decide to make Aliya, you can fly to the States to visit your family and friends as many times and as long as you want. If your son does not wish to be an Oleh, he can live in the country under a different status, for example as a temporary resident. I suggest you ask for more details at the nearest Israeli Consulate. Good luck.

Thomas Lawson, Farmington: Can we move Jewish people even faster from Russia/Ukraine, France, and Argentina? We must take advantage of the ’open doors’ while we have them.

Minister Tzipi Livni: The Israeli government and the Jewish Agency do their best to encourage the immigration of Jews from all over the world. This includes immigration from the countries that you mentioned. The Israeli government and the Jewish Agency make a constant effort to improve and advance its ways of action.

Gerald Lebow, Phoenix, USA: I am a healthy, 72-year-old American male who would like to come to Israel as an Oleh. My question is: Is my US social security income of $15,000 per year taxable in Israel and is that amount enough to live in Israel, meaning specifically, will that amount cover housing, food, transportation, health costs, etc?

Minister Tzipi Livni: As a general rule, people who receive Social Security allowances don’t pay more taxes in Israel. Regarding your question about the standard of life you will have given that allowance, that is very relevant and depends on the individual. Many people in Israel live off a similar monthly income. The question is, what standard of life you desire. You should take into consideration monthly rent (between $300-$450, on average) and plan your residency in accordance. Good luck.

Joshua Kahn Be’er Sheva: I’m a 20-year-old student planning on making Aliya. How long can I defer military draft so I can finish school?

Minister Tzipi Livni: IDF Induction Center usually enables Olim to finish their BA prior to their draft. I suggest you approach the Absorption Office in Be’er Sheva and speak with Ms. Aviah Itah, who is in charge of immigrant soldiers. She can get in touch with army officials and help you get authorized answers before you make a decision about making Aliya. Good luck.

Abraham Levi, Ra’anana, Israel: Don’t you think that Israel has become a revolving door? Immigrants come and take out Israeli citizenship and Ma’anak, and later on after a few years, they emigrate to Canada or Germany? Shouldn’t Israel concentrate on helping young Sabras instead of hunting people who are eligible for immigration to Israel under the Law of Return?

Minister Tzipi Livni: It is important to clarify that the money given to immigrants as part of the absorption basket is used by Olim for daily life in their first months in Israel. Without this aid, many would not be able to make it in their new country of residence. The State of Israel, since its foundation, gives aid to all immigrants. The parents of Sabras (people who were born in Israel) were once new immigrants, who received similar financial assistance. The State of Israel, which is the national home of the Jewish people, could not exist without newcomers. The great majority of Olim stay in Israel and are successfully absorbed in Israeli society. Some of those who leave and go abroad come back to Israel. The new immigrants help strengthen the state. This should in no way contradict the country’s obligation to its sons and veteran citizens.