Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 07, 2008 Tamuz 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:19 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (Ancho Gosh) Last update - 14:06 14/10/2007 Lieberman seeks to encourage aliyah of Russian Jews from Canada By Amiram Barkat and Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Canada, Jews, Russian Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman is seeking to involve the immigration support agency Nativ in persuading Russian-speaking Jews in Canada to immigrate to Israel. The semi-covert agency Nativ is preparing to expand its activities to North America, sources within the organization told Haaretz. Established in the 1950s, Nativ worked in the former Soviet Union to bring Jews to Israel, and was a liaison for Jewish dissidents. Canadian Jewish leaders are said to support Nativ. Advertisement Since its founding, Nativ has channeled its efforts solely towards encouraging Russian-speaking Jews from the former Soviet Union to immigrate to Israel. In light of the fall of the Soviet Union and due to the sharp drop in aliyah in recent years, the scope of the group's activities has significantly decreased. Lieberman has sought to expand the organization's operations since his ministry assumed overall responsibility for Nativ as part of Yisrael Beiteinu's coalition agreement with Kadima. Prior to Lieberman's assuming office, Nativ operated under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Office. The minister has instructed Nativ emissaries abroad to concentrate their efforts on Jewish emigres from the former Soviet Union who have made their homes in other parts of the world. A panel comprised jointly of government ministers and Jewish Agency officials resolved that Nativ would not expand its operations into North America for fear that it would harm Israel's diplomatic standing. Instead, Nativ would limit its work only to Germany, to where over 200,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union have immigrated in the last 20 years. The decision was met with harsh criticism from the Jewish community in Germany, whose leadership objected to not being consulted on the matter. In addition, the German government protested the move, albeit quietly. Recently, Lieberman revisited the North America issue, placing a particular emphasis on the large Russian-speaking Jewish community currently living in the Montreal area. Having drawn the appropriate lessons from their brush with Jewish leaders in Germany, officials in Jerusalem are moving ahead with encouraging aliyah though this time in concert with local Jewish organizations in Montreal. Nativ representatives will be allowed to pursue its aliyah-related activities in the Montreal area under certain conditions. In response, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs issued a statement which read: "Nativ does not operate in North America." More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Killing spree Police conclude Jerusalem bulldozer killer acted alone. The Bar exam Attention celebrities: Israeli start-up company can save you from paparazzi   1.   not helping 12:08  |  Sarah 14/10/07   2.   Russian Mafia parading themselves as Jews in Canada 12:19  |  Hannah 14/10/07   3.   We dont want them here!!!! 12:59  |  Enough 14/10/07   4.   Cool 14:41  |  Yaacov 14/10/07   5.   Russian jews from Canada 15:02  |  Jack 14/10/07   6.   TELL OPPORTUNIST-TURNCOAT LIBERMAN TO RESIGN))) 15:08  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 14/10/07   7.   LIEBERMAN IS DOING A GOOD JOB AND SHOULD BE PM. 15:32  |  Eitan 14/10/07   8.   Lieberman`s last trick 16:03  |  Alex 14/10/07   9.   I am Canadian ... they will not come! 16:20  |  Jewisha Boychick 14/10/07   10.   Been there done that 16:30  |  Michael 14/10/07   11.   THEY ARE MUCH BETTER OFF IN CANADA.. AWAY FROM APARTHEID 16:30  |  Drogba 14/10/07   12.   I WISH I REMAINED IN RUSSIA 16:32  |  Elena 14/10/07   13.   Lieberman: where would we immigrate? You´re giving the Land away! 16:48  |  DiasporaGreetings 14/10/07   14.   Why leave Canada? 16:50  |  Marc 14/10/07   15.   Palestinians refugees must return to their homes 16:52  |  nobodysacred 14/10/07   16.   Wonderful Russian jews for Israel -IS THAT SO? 17:14  |  Jack 14/10/07   17.   Israel has yet to integrate those from FSU - Why call for more? 17:48  |  Raymond from DC 14/10/07   18.   Russian Jews from Canada 18:01  |  felx 14/10/07   19.   question 18:27  |  zz 14/10/07   20.   Why leave Canada? 18:33  |  Jeff 14/10/07   21.   #16 Jack 18:40  |  Michael 14/10/07   22.   yes felix 18:47  |  Blabass 14/10/07   23.   This is appalling 18:47  |  Mark Marshall 14/10/07   24.   re:jeff-had to laugh about how easy travel is to usa/vica versa 18:59  |  yahn goodey 14/10/07   25.   to #22 part 1 19:15  |  felix 14/10/07   26.   # 22 part 2 19:28  |  felix 14/10/07   27.   Don`t Look a Gift Horse 20:13  |  Dave Levy 14/10/07   28.   Lieberman tries to increase his voting base 20:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/10/07   29.   To Jeff: Some Jews Like Flying Jets 20:19  |  Dave Levy 14/10/07   30.   Good posts felix 20:21  |  Meir Moses 14/10/07   31.   Palestinine Refugees To Israel 20:26  |  Dave Levy 14/10/07   32.   Felix 20:28  |  Blabass 14/10/07   33.   I AM A RUSSIAN JEW IN NORTH AMERICA MAKING ALIYAH 20:37  |  OLIM 14/10/07   34.   Moroccan, Felix 22:05  |  Alex 14/10/07   35.   blabass 22:43  |  felix 14/10/07   36.   to #30 22:46  |  felix 14/10/07   37.   Russian "Jews" in Canada 22:53  |  Miriam 14/10/07   38.   to 34 23:00  |  felix 14/10/07   39.   STOP CORRUPTION INVEST MONEY IN ISRAELI ECONOMY CREATE REAL JOBS 23:49  |  VICTOR 14/10/07   40.   More pathetic Israeli prosyletizing 00:04  |  Tim 15/10/07   41.   Russian Jews 00:24  |  David 15/10/07   42.   DOES ANYONE KNOW NATIV`S BUDGET INCLUDING ALL SALARIES??? 00:34  |  VICTOR 15/10/07   43.   to n:o 12 elena 00:39  |  Kobi former Swede 15/10/07   44.   # 2 So called Hannah - "Are they Russian Mafia? " 01:24  |  17 15/10/07   45.   Why Aliyah, then A mad D neja wipe us all out. 01:37  |  Igor 15/10/07   46.   to russia with love..oops, aeroflot 02:03  |  zac 15/10/07   47.   So, Israel needs to swell her population. 02:18  |  Maureen Ann 15/10/07   48.   If they are Jewish Israel should Welcome them 04:12  |  Efox 15/10/07   49.   re: Maureen Ann 04:14  |  Efox 15/10/07   50.   To maureen 18:06  |  trumpeldor 15/10/07   51.   for Marc 10:55  |  Alex 29/10/07   52.   Lieberman is wrong 11:07  |  Yona Schear 29/10/07   53.   12, Elena For whom "no paradise"? 11:18  |  a jew 29/10/07   54.   a waste of time and effort 12:43  |  De 29/10/07   55.   are you jew-zionist and not mafia, Hannah? 12:53  |  Puhi 29/10/07   56.   #9 & 55 Really the system milks the olims! 15:10  |  Moscow`s jew 29/10/07   57.   To #15: Arab oil under UN control !! 19:19  |  3-ha-ha 29/10/07   58.   To 46. Teach yourself... 19:27  |  3-ha-ha 29/10/07   59.   Israel needs people that want to live in Israel 19:36  |  3-ha-ha 29/10/07   60.   A Jew is free not to be a Jew and to live anywhere 19:44  |  Velvl Shmerlson 29/10/07   61.   to 3 03:46  |  anonimus 30/10/07   62.   Russian Jew 03:08  |  Slava A 21/02/08   63.   Use this money for needy people in Israel 11:16  |  Russian Jew 04/03/08   64.   To Elena #12 10:04  |  Rachel L. 07/07/08

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