In a year-end report on aliyah (immigration to Israel) for 2008, the Jewish Agency reported an increase in immigration from English-speaking countries, even though there was a 16 percent drop in aliyah overall. A major factor in the decrease, the Agency said, was the change in government policy regarding the Falash Mura 
The largest increase in the number of olim from any one country was... from South Africa.
community in Ethiopia.
By the last day of 2008, the Jewish Agency will have facilitated the the immigration of 16,500 people. As in years past, the largest bloc of immigrants, representing 35 percent of the total, came from Russia, Ukraine and other countries that were part of the former Soviet Union. Another 20 percent of the olim (people who make aliyah) came from Western Europe, followed by 19 percent from North America and 13 percent from Africa.
The largest increase in the number of olim from any one country was 350 immigrants from South Africa in 2008, compared with 178 the year before. In fact, increases were recorded in the numbers of olim from all the English-speaking countries: North America (3,150 in 2008, as opposed to 3,074 in 2007), Britain (680, compared to 660) and Australia (165, as opposed to 122). Some other countries with more immigrants to Israel in 2008 than in 2007 are Hungary (60 this year, 49 last year), Brazil (300, as opposed to 284), Mexico (90, compared to 66), Chile (90, as opposed to 71).
According to the Jewish Agency, there were a total of 1,300 olim from all of South America in 2008, 430 from Asia, 150 from Eastern Europe and 180 from Australia and New Zealand combined. In addition, this year saw immigrants arriving from countries with very small or non-existent Jewish communities. Four people made aliyah from China, three from Hong Kong, three from Ireland, two from El Salvador and two from Honduras. A single oleh arrived from each of the following countries in the past year: Uganda, Angola, Martinique, Andorra, Thailand, Greece and Gibraltar.
This year saw a significant drop in the number of olim from Ethiopia - from 3,600 in 2007 to 1,700 in 2008 - due to a government decision to cut back on the immigration of members of the Falash Mura community there. The status of the Falash Mura as Jewish is a matter of contention, including among Jews from Ethiopia.
Another factor in the drop in aliyah in 2008 was the slowing in immigration by French Jews. Two thousand olim arrived from France in 2008, while 2,700 made the move last year. Some have attributed the change to the ascension of Nicolas Sarkozy, with many people believing him to be a friend of the Jews.
Eli Cohen, Chairman of the Jewish Agency's Immigration and Absorption Department, estimated that 2009 would see a significant rise in aliyah. Factors that could contribute to the increase, the Agency explained, include new initiatives targeting potential olim as well as the global economic downturn.
"The relative stability of the State of Israel may encourage potential olim to settle in Israel in order to ensure the future of their children and to build their home here," Cohen said. He added that the Jewish Agency will be collaborating with the Absorption Ministry, the Nefesh B'Nefesh and AMI organizations and others in developing specialized programs to attract immigrants and assist them with integration into the Israeli labor market.