Twenty-five new immigrants (olim) are to arrive in Israel Wednesday afternoon after having the rare privilege of flying from Latin America with President Shimon Peres, who is returning after a round of visits in the region. Their fully-booked plane left Brazil on Tuesday.

The new Israelis hail from Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Peru. Approximately 1,200 Jews are expected to move from Latin America to Israel by the end of 2009 with the help of the Jewish Agency.