(May 21, 2025) On the 20th May 2025, a meeting was called by the Knesset Committee on Aliya & Klita chairman, Oded Forer, in the premises of the Knesset. The meeting was attended by the deputy director-general of the ministry, Moshe Pines, the Jewish Agency along with a host of departmental officials including director of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Michal Weiler-Tal, who is in charge of southeast Asia and NGOs representing the interests of the B'nei Menashe, including Shavei Israel and Degel Menashe, represented by its executive director, Yitzhak Thangjom.
The meeting was presided over by the chairman of the committee, Oded Forer, who made a broad emphasis on the aliya of the B'nei Menashe. In the run of the questions, deputy director Pines made known the government's serious intent on making this aliya a reality after a gap of about 4 years. He made it clear that the government was is looking to bring in all the 5 to 6 thousand, which represents the total population in the region, within 4 to 5 years. Priority will be given on basis of seniority and family reunion, not necessarily in that order. This had been the criteria for aliya ever since the Rabbi Avichayil initiated it in the early 1990s. It had been continually flouted ever since Shavei Israel took charge in 2003/4. Nepotism, favoritism and serious malpractices peppered the 20-odd years it was in charge. Now that seems to be changing with the current ministry insisting that it will conduct the aliya without the involvement of any NGOs. As per estimates that was made available, a financial outlay of about 130 to 150 million Shekels ($ 30-40 million) will be needed over a period of five years. This will have to be passed by the government lead by the finance ministry. Regardless of that, it was reliably learnt that the first batch of about 500 olim should arrive by late this year, November or December. This will be followed by a similar number by Pesach.
A similar meeting was held last week by Pnina Tamano-Shata, the previous minister and current MK. It was held in the Negev Hall in the Knesset and spoke about similar objectives. Degel Menashe was represented by its two board member, Rivka Lunkhel and Shmuel Boitlung and volunteer, Jessica Thangjom.
