IMMIGRATION WORLDWIDE.

The "Immigration Debate" in Australia is about the quality and quantity of new immigrants to this country. A shortage of labour has attracted thousands of new skilled short-term immigrants to regional Australia as well as to the major cities.

Two overseas nations' immigrant numbers are the same,- but not proportionally.

"Immigration in France was at its height in 2005: French authorities saw 2980(*see below) new immigrants arrive to the country, the highest number in 34 years !" (Guysen.Israël.News)

"Over 3,000 Jews from northern America immigrated in Israel this year, marking a 15% increased compared to 2004." (Guysen.Israël.News)

I bet their origins are not the same either! Which country is making a better deal of it?

Not that necessarily all USA immigrants are so welcomed in Israel. Many belong to the ultr-Orthodox sects of Judaism and are more of a drain on the economy than an asset and are politically motivated and encouraged to make Alyah not only religiously. Therefore most Israelis would prefer them to stay in the USA,- but nevertheless, the quality and number of immigrants from the West to Israel certainly outweighs the quality of non-European immigrants coming into the European Union countries. Their successful absorption into Israel is faster than in France, or there would not be the race-riots which France has been experiencing of late.

With Australia experiencing its own inter-ethnic riots in Sydney recently, no doubt the immigration debate will continue to surface periodically. It's all about successful integration in the Australian society,-economically, socially and racially.
A common denominator has to be found,- in Israel the fact that biblical Judaism has taught certain moral and ethical values which are the same everywhere, probably makes a difference, - as well as the strong motivating factor of the return to their ancestral homeland,- "alyah".

Other countries have to find these, such as economical, social-justice and democratic values to inculcate into the newcomer generations, -in order to ensure successful integrations also of their future generations.

Full breakdown of immigration figures in Israel for 2005:According to the Jewish Agency's preliminary figures, 23,000 people came to live in Israel in 2005; 3,054 made their alyia from North America (compared to 2,640 in 2004) and (*) 2,980 made their alyia from France (compared to 2,415 in 2004). (Guysen.Israël.News)

3,700 left Ethiopia, a figure similar to that recorded in 2004. Also 9,124 immigrated from the FSU (a 10% drop compared to the previsous year).; 1850 olim came from South America (compared to 1348 in 2004 - a 37.3% rise).