Group of 137 Brazilians and Argentinians had been stranded by coronavirus closure of Israel's airport and European restrictions on connections

Steepest decline comes from new immigrants from Russia, blamed on shut down on flights, pandemic lockdowns, however, immigration from France remains steady

While the Jewish Agency recognizes the non-Orthodox conversions of the Abayudaya community, the Interior Ministry refuses, driving a bigger wedge between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry

eJewishPhilanthropy: JAFI denies volunteers at Galilee-based aliyah center evangelized new Jewish immigrants; Return Ministries rejects allegations of 'hidden agendas'

Jewish Agency says about 20,000 olim will have arrived by year's end, over half from former Soviet Union countries; last year, 33,247 came

MKs reach compromise with Interior Ministry to allow entry to close relatives of those in country for less than 4 years; quarantine rules to apply; takes effect in 4 weeks

Girmew Gete, 36, who was shot dead in the Amara-Tigray border area, is survived by partner and 4-year-old daughter; his 84-year-old grandmother is mostly alone in Kiryat Gat

November 15 will mark 5 years since the government first promised to bring some 8,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel; officials are now selecting 2,000 for a January arrival

Conversation between leaders comes ahead of planned cabinet vote on $109 million plan; the two also discuss deepening Israeli agricultural assistance to Ethiopia

Announcement of NIS 370 million project comes days after video surfaces of prominent anti-government protest leader making race-tinged remark to cop from Ethiopian community