Immigration and Absorption Ministry

Ethiopian Jews scuffle with police during a protest urging the government to bring their family members to Israel due to fighting in Ethiopia, near the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on August 13, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

August 17, 2023, 5:29 am

Israel to review Ethiopia immigration policy amid increased fighting in country

Minister appoints former top army officer to oversee process and present his conclusions, having previously reportedly ruled out further rescue mission to Gondar

By ToI Staff

August 15, 2023, 11:00 am

Israel not planning further evacuations from Ethiopia amid fighting, says minister

Ofir Sofer reportedly tells activists there’s unlikely to be a repeat of last week’s extraction of 204 Israelis and Ethiopians eligible for citizenship

By Canaan Lidor and ToI Staff

Then-Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, center, in blue coat, welcomes new immigrants from Ukraine at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, in an undated photo distributed by the Immigration and Absorption Ministry on July 6, 2022. (Courtesy: Naga Malasa)

April 21, 2023, 11:00 pm

Israel ends expedited immigration track for Russians and Belarusians fleeing war

Immigration Ministry will maintain fast-tracked program for Ukrainians and special cases, but says it wants to focus on absorbing the massive wave of people who arrived last year

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

Illustrative: Immigrants fleeing from war zones in the Ukraine arrive at the Israeli immigration and absorption office, at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, on March 15, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)

March 8, 2023, 7:26 pm

Interior Ministry proposes law to restrict passports for new immigrants

Legislation would only allow new arrivals to receive documentation after residing in Israel for 1 year; ministry says some exploit benefits without settling down

By ToI Staff

The Knesset's Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee holds a hearing on Hebrew teacher shortages on January 18, 2023. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset)

January 18, 2023, 7:13 pm

MKs demand solutions to Hebrew teacher shortage that is vexing new immigrants

Low pay blamed for months-long backlog for new arrivals seeking placement in language classes; fuming panel head knocks plan to offer vouchers for private lessons

By Judah Ari Gross

The Knesset's Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs holds its first hearing on January 9, 2023. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset)

January 10, 2023, 12:46 pm

After 50-year high in 2021, immigration from North America returns to normal

In first session, Knesset’s ‘aliyah’ committee also hears from experts and activists on massive influx following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Judah Ari Gross

Jewish Home and National Union alliance member MK Ofir Sofer, at a faction meeting at the Knesset, on November 11, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

December 8, 2022, 1:15 am

Incoming immigration minister says Law of Return ‘needs to be fixed’

Religious Zionism’s Ofir Sofer doesn’t elaborate on plans, asks for ‘grace period’ to study issue before attempting changes, including to controversial ‘grandparent clause’

By ToI Staff

From left: Dr. Sefefe Aitchek, Dr. Irene-Rina Fremont, Leonardo Oros Duek, President Isaac Herzog, Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, prize committee head Yossi Alfi, Vladimir Cohen and Kira Radinsky pose for a photograph at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on December 1, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

December 1, 2022, 10:38 pm

Young AI analytics pioneer among five awarded government honor for immigrants

Immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, France, Ethiopia and Argentina recognized for work advancing health care, sports and culture at President’s Residence ceremony

By ToI Staff

New immigrant children from Ukraine take part in a special camp in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam to teach them Hebrew and prepare them for the coming school year in the summer of 2022. (International Fellowship of Christians and Jews)

August 31, 2022, 6:57 am

Israeli schools ready for influx of Ukrainian, Russian immigrants as opening nears

With limited Hebrew and traumas from war, over 2,600 refugee children prepare to face their next challenge: the Israeli education system

By Judah Ari Gross

August 30, 2022, 8:55 pm

Ahead of school year, most new Ukrainian and Russian immigrant kids not enrolled

Of the 6,000 or so children who moved to Israel since the invasion of Ukraine, just 2,653 are registered to start classes on September 1, Education Ministry says

By Judah Ari Gross

August 11, 2022, 12:00 am

Amid war, Israel sees threefold increase in immigration from Russia and Ukraine

12,175 immigrants arrived from Ukraine and 18,891 from Russia over five-month period

By ToI Staff

Kefale Tayachew, his wife, Addisie, and their six children (from left) Alemnesh, Abraham, Lemlem, Desalegn, Elssa and Muluken, in their home in Gondar on May 29, 2022. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)

June 15, 2022, 12:28 pm

As thousands fulfill lifelong Israel dream, other Ethiopians on hold indefinitely

A wave of 3,000 new immigrants is underway, but many activists say the piecemeal operation only prolongs the saga and provides false hope to those who will never be let into Israel

By Amy Spiro

Ukrainian immigrants to Israel who fled fighting in Ukraine arrive on a rescue flight at Ben Gurion Airport, on March 17, 2022. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

May 24, 2022, 6:24 pm

Some Ukrainian refugee families getting kicked out of absorption hotels — report

Landlords reportedly reluctant to rent to new immigrants due to lack of income; Immigration Ministry says everyone will be taken care of

By ToI Staff

Illustrative: Ukrainians refugees receive their entry papers to Israel, at an emergency shelter in Chisinau, Moldova, March 15, 2022. (Flash90)

April 25, 2022, 10:07 pm

Over 15,000 have immigrated to Israel since Russia invaded Ukraine: ministry

Three times as many Ukrainians have moved to Israel in the past 2 months than in all of 2021, along with thousands of Russians and Belarusians, in massive migration wave

By Judah Ari Gross

Jewish immigrants fleeing from war zones in the Ukraine arrive at the immigration and absorption office, at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, on March 15, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

April 10, 2022, 5:16 pm

Ministers approve emergency housing assistance for new immigrants fleeing Ukraine

New arrivals will get cash to help pay rent for a year, on top of the existing benefits provided to those who move to the country

By ToI Staff