Germany has been a popular destination for ex-Soviet Jews, who of late have been immigrating to that country in greater numbers than to Israel. Germany has offered ex-Soviet bloc Jews refugee status since 1991, when the former Soviet Union dissolved, and has actively encouraged them to move to Germany.
Under new regulations, immigrants will have to be under 45 years old and must have knowledge of German.
About 190,000 Jews from the former Soviet countries have moved to Germany. Many of them are elderly, reportedly placing a financial burden on the Jewish community there. A German newspaper reported that 75% of the Jewish immigrants are on welfare.
Germany had encouraged Jews to immigrate freely, offending Israel in the process. Matters reached a head this year, when twice as many ex-Soviet Jews leaving Russia and neighboring countries chose Germany instead of Israel.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor rebuked Germany six months ago for "enticing" these Jews to come "under refugee status, despite the fact that the State of Israel has already existed for 56 years" and serves as their homeland.
The Jewish Agency appointed Israel's former ambassador to Germany, Benjamin Navon, as its special emissary to push the German government to change its policy. Jewish Agency spokesman Michael Jankelowitz told the Post that the news was a "positive development," but official German government documentation is still awaited.
Under new regulations, immigrants will have to be under 45 years old and must have knowledge of German.
About 190,000 Jews from the former Soviet countries have moved to Germany. Many of them are elderly, reportedly placing a financial burden on the Jewish community there. A German newspaper reported that 75% of the Jewish immigrants are on welfare.
Germany had encouraged Jews to immigrate freely, offending Israel in the process. Matters reached a head this year, when twice as many ex-Soviet Jews leaving Russia and neighboring countries chose Germany instead of Israel.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor rebuked Germany six months ago for "enticing" these Jews to come "under refugee status, despite the fact that the State of Israel has already existed for 56 years" and serves as their homeland.
The Jewish Agency appointed Israel's former ambassador to Germany, Benjamin Navon, as its special emissary to push the German government to change its policy. Jewish Agency spokesman Michael Jankelowitz told the Post that the news was a "positive development," but official German government documentation is still awaited.