A group of 63 new immigrants from Argentina arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport Tuesday afternoon, the first of an expected wave of arrivals following the recent riots in the economically stricken South American country.

Many of the newly arrived Argentinian olim hadashim (new immigrants) insisted that their decision to make Aliyah and move to Israel was not a direct result of the harsh economic and social crisis in Argentina, but rather based on planning started long ago. Even so, most noted that this year's worsening situation had given an added impetus and urgency to leave the country.

"It is possible that now, after the difficult events in

"In Israel there is Palestinian terror, but the terror of hunger is worse" - new immigrant Ruti Romero

Buenos Aires, more Jews will want to immigrate to Israel," said Ruti Romero, who arrived in Israel along with her daughter Yael, 8, and her son Uri, 6. Romero, who converted to Judaism at age 12, had envisioned moving to Israel for years.

"I delayed the decision until I was thrown out onto the street with the children," she said. "For two days we lived in the street, with no food. I asked for charity from the Jewish community, and they told me it was easier now to move to Israel. In Israel there is Palestinian terror, but the terror of hunger is much worse."

"Compared to Argentina, the crisis in Israel is laughable," said Oscar Resnikoff, a former cab driver from Buenos Aires who arrived in Israel with his wife Debra, and their 7-year-old son, Yoel. In Argentina, he said, "there is no work, no morals and no education. Even if you work hard, you could die of hunger."

Like many of Tuesday's arrivals, Elizabeth Mentikoff is a returning immigrant. Her parents left Israel for Argentina shortly after the Yom Kippur War. After 28 years, Mentikoff returned to Israel as a single mother with her daughter, Michelle. "I have wanted to come back to Israel for a long time. But because many in Israel thought Argentinian Jews to be rich, the government didn't offer us any help. Now, when there are special conditions, we made Aliyah. It was easy to pack. We didn't have anything. Lately, we haven't had anything to eat."

The new immigrants received a warm welcome at the airport, where they were greeted by Jewish Agency officials and Absorption Ministry Director-General Ronen Plot. The arrivals were transferred to Jewish Agency absorption centers in Beer Sheva, Raanana and Kiryat Yam. Some of the new immigrants have relatives already in Israel.

More immigrants expected
A second wave of new immigrants from Argentina is due today, when 30 youths from the Naaleh program will arrive. The Naaleh program, originally geared to immigrants from countries of the former Soviet Union, brings youths to Israel for a trial year ahead of their parents. According to Yediot Aharonot, 95% of the youths choose to stay in Israel, while 75% of their parents make Aliyah as well. This week's arrivals from Argentina will be absorbed in Kibbutz Miflasim, where they will receive housing and special Spanish language instruction at the Shaar Hanegev School.

According to Jewish Agency statistics, about 1,500 Argentinian Jews made Aliyah in 2001. Mike Rosenberg, director-general of the Agency's immigration and absorption department, predicts that the number will double in 2002. Agency spokesman Yehuda Weinraub said that its offices in Argentina have seen a "threefold increase" in the number of inquiries about immigration to Israel since the economic crisis there began. Agency and ministry representatives in Argentina are reportedly working round the clock to deal with the thousands of Aliyah requests.

The Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption recently approved a new aid package for Argentinian immigrants. Immigrants will be eligible to receive a special package of $20,000 Government assistance for the purchase of housing (one third a grant and two thirds low-interest loan) and a special $2,500 Jewish Agency absorption grant. Additional assistance will be in the form of a regular absorption allowance of some $16,000 per family, Hebrew language and professional job retraining courses, free health insurance for half a year, scholarships and deferments.

The increased incentives are necessary, because some Argentinean Jews will be coming "with nothing at all," Rosenberg said. Despite support from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, it is not certain where the budget for the incentives will come from, the Jerusalem Post reported.

According to Weinraub, a quarter of Argentina's 200,000 Jews live below the poverty line. The new arrivals from Argentina hope that they will have better lives in Israel, despite the ongoing wave of Palestinian violence and Israel's severe economic crisis. Israel's recession and 9.4% unemployment rate seem paltry to immigrants familiar with hunger and Argentina's 18 percent jobless rate.

© 2001 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.