Recession fuels Russian aliyah

Aliyah from the former Soviet Union grew last year by 21 per cent over 2008, with 6,818 Russian-speaking immigrants moving to Israel in 2009. In the first four months of 2010, aliyah is up a further 22 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel. From Russia alone, the rise has been slightly greater. Last year, 3,150 Russians moved to Israel compared with 2,605 in 2008, and this year’s increase so far shows an even greater uptick: 905 in the first four months of 2010, an increase of about 25 per cent over 2009. Observers attribute the rise to the global recession, which has prompted some Jews to reconsider their future in Russia. The recession has hit Russia harder than it has hit Israel.

South Africa recalls ambassador

South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel but doesn’t plan to cut diplomatic ties, a government official said. The decision followed Israel’s deadly interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, in which nine people were killed during a confrontation with Israeli troops. “The recall of Ambassador Ishmael Coovadia is to show our strongest condemnation of the attack. This recent Israel aggression of attacking the aid flotilla severely impacts on finding a lasting solution to the problems of the region,” Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim told journalists in Pretoria. South Africa has no intention of expelling the Israeli ambassador to the country, Ebrahim said. Avrom Krengel, chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, told the Mail & Guardian that the incident was “unfortunate and entirely regrettable.” He criticized the South African government for acting “in a biased manner” in condemning the attack.

Soldier’s kidnapping planned

A senior Israeli official claimed that activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid ship boarded by Israeli commandos had plans to kidnap an Israeli soldier. Daniel Ayalon, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, made the claim in a conference call with 3,000 supporters of Christians United for Israel. He said that the activists were equipped with weapons and gas masks and had segregated the more peaceful activists below deck. Ayalon didn’t cite evidence for his claims. Nine activists were killed in the raid. Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded.

Obama extends embassy move waiver

U.S. President Barack Obama has extended a waiver for an additional six months delaying moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Obama’s waiver, issued June 2, follows in the footsteps of predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, who also extended the waiver every six months since the law was adopted in 1995 calling for the move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  Presidents can delay the move on national security grounds. Some Jewish groups have pushed for the United States to move the embassy as a way to bolster Israeli claims to the city. Those favouring the waiver say such a step would anger the Arab world and put the United States in the position of taking sides on an issue that should be settled in peace talks.                          – files from JTA