Members of the Aliyah and Absorption Committee in the Knesset are advocating for the approval of aliyah for around 5,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community in northeastern India, who claim descent from the Lost Tribes of Israel. This community is facing danger due to clan fighting in their region and approximately half of them have relatives already living in Israel.
Challenges to Aliyah
The community does not meet the criteria of Israel’s Law of Return, requiring a cabinet decision and conversion by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. Agreements regarding their conversion process need to be renegotiated with the new Chief Rabbis. Additionally, the Israel Police has recruited members of the Bnei Menashe community to serve in cities where they are concentrated.
Committee Chairman MK Oded Forer emphasized the importance of not allowing budgetary constraints to hinder decisions regarding aliyah. In a separate announcement, the Aliyah and Absorption Ministry approved the aliyah of Aharon Hanghal, the brother of Sgt. Gideon Hanghal, who was killed in a terrorist attack on September 11.