The Jewish Agency reports that 16,500 immigrated to Israel in 2008, 3,150 from North America and 500 immigrants arrive in the final week of the year.
The number of total immigration reflects a drop compared with last year, which saw 19,700 immigrants, due mainly to the slowing in the immigration of Falashmura from Ethiopia and a decrease in the number of immigrants from France.
The number of new immigrants from North America increased slightly this year from 3,074 in 2007 to 3,150, of them, 2,750 of the new immigrants from the United States and 400 from Canada.
Aliyah Department Director Eli Cohen states that he expects a rise in North American immigration due to the decline in the U.S. economy.
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