News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The Jewish Agency, which is planning to drastically cut back Aliyah operations, is toying with "flexible aliyah" to encourage potential immigrants to Israel. The proposal would allow new olim to divide their time between living in Israel and working in their native countries. Approximately 10 percent of recent North American and British olim "commute" from Israel.

Other ideas making the rounds include creating a community for American retirees in Eilat and establishing a new town for French speakers.
 
Hebrew University demographer Sergio Della Pergola noted that despite tax incentives and other proposals for boosting aliyah, Jews will move to Israel only when they see the country as fulfilling a promise of Jewish life. "If it's a country just like any other, then why come here?" he said.