The government of Israel and the Jewish Agency are launching a special operation to encourage immigration of Jews from Argentina, given the recent political turmoil in that country. Prime Minister Sharon decided yesterday to award Argentinian Jews a special package of absorption benefits. Each family that chooses to move to Israel will receive $20,000 in assistance towards the purchase of an apartment. The Jewish Agency will award an initial absorption allocation of $2,500 per family.



Tomorrow, 61 immigrants from Argentina will arrive in Israel, to be joined on the next day by 40 high-school youngsters. Also on Wednesday, 25 Argentinian Jews will arrive on a pilot trip to examine absorption possibilities in Israel. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, some 60,000 immigrants have come from Argentina, 1,500 in the year 2001 alone.