CJPME on Jewish immigration to Israel after 1948

Has immigration been promoted after the creation of the State of Israel?

After the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, all limitations on Jewish immigration were lifted, which triggered a large influx of migrants and displaced persons after WWII.  The State of Israel also passed the Law of Return, under which any Jewish person has the right to immigrate to Israel. 

The newcomers came from Europe, counties in the Near East, and the Maghreb.  Jews in Arab countries, such as Iraq, faced growing public hostility because of the conflict in Palestine and later as a result of Israel’s creation at Palestinian Arabs’ expense.  Fearing for their security, most Arab Jews eventually chose to emigrate, in response to hostile Arab governments and encouragement by Israeli representatives and agents who were eager to bring them to Israel.  This combination of factors led to the nearly total disappearance of ancient Jewish communities in the Near East and Maghreb.  Immigration leapt again in 1989-90, with the fall of the Soviet Union and the opening of borders in Eastern Europe.

Today: In total, the State of Israel has absorbed 3.1 immigrants since its creation, 1 million of them between 1990 and 1999.  The State of Israel has in fact strongly encouraged Jewish immigration with the objective of ensuring that the majority of Israel’s population remains Jewish, despite Arab Israelis’ high birthrate.  Today, however, large-scale immigration is almost non-existent, with many residents leaving the country.

~ Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, "Jewish Immigration to Historical Palestine," CJPME Factsheet 181, November, 2013

Henry Kissinger on the Israeli-Arab conflict

The Israelis want security.  The Arabs want dignity.  And they consider the demands of each other as incompatible.

~ Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger and Egypt's Anwar Sadat

Sheldon Richman on the historic treatment of Jews by Arabs

Just to give you an idea of the potential that was squandered [by the Zionist movement], it's an undeniable fact that Jews over the centuries had a much easier time in the Arab world and the Muslim-controlled world than in Europe.  It's no contest.  In Spain, when the Muslims took over Spain long, long ago, there were Jews there and it wasn't until 1492 that the Jews get kicked out or forced to convert to Christianity.  It was the 15th century, but why were they there to be kicked out?  Because the Muslims didn't kick them out.

~ Sheldon Richman, "Investigating Israel and Palestine," YouTube, 44:40 mark, November 22, 2022

(Wikipedia: As citizens of the Roman Empire, the Jews of Spain engaged in a variety of occupations, including agriculture. Until the adoption of Christianity, Jews had close relations with non-Jewish populations, and played an active role in the social and economic life of the province.)

A Jew and a Muslim playing chess in 13th century al-Andalus