Immigration to Israel at lowest in 20 years

Immigration to occupied Palestine by Zionist Jews continued to slide in 2007 with the number of newcomers at just 19,700, the lowest level in 20 years, according to figures published on Monday.

Immigration was down six percent from 2006, the 'immigrant absorption ministry' said.

The number of immigrants from former Soviet countries, which made up 30 percent of all newcomers, dropped 15 percent from 2006.

Zeev Bielsky, head of a Zionist agency to alure immigrants to the polity, expressed concern over the falling numbers.

He admitted that Zionist Jews today had fewer reasons to leave their countries of origin as the occupied Palestine has become less attractive as a land of immigration.

Numbers from former Soviet countries have declined because the economic situation in Russia has improved and Zionist communities there are flourishing, he told Zionist Army radio.

Immigration from France has also fallen following the election as President of Nicolas Sarkozy, who is popular in the Zionist community. One of Sarkozy's grandparents was Jewish.