Law of Return

What was the Law of Return?

The Knesset (Israeli Parliament) passed a law which said that any Jew in the world had a right to become an Israeli citizen.

Why was the Law of Return passed?

The Law was passed after many Jews wanted to immigrate to Israel to escape persecution. There had been a huge number immigrating since the new state was declared in 1948 doubling the population size.

Who came due to the Law of Return?

Many European Jews who had survived the Holocaust immigrated at the end of the Second World War. Also Jews who had been living in neighbouring Arab states moves to escape the growing danger of living there after the Arab-Israeli War of 1948-49. Others came from the USSR to escape persecution there too.

How many used the Law of Return to come from western Europe?

73,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Poland?

156,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from USSR?

21,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Romania?

230,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Czechoslovakia?

20,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Yugoslavia?

8,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Hungary?

24,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Bulgaria?

49,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Turkey?

58,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Syria?

4,500.00.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Lebanon?

4,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Iraq?

120,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Yemen?

47,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Aden?

4,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Egypt?

38,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Libya?

34,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Tunisia?

46,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Algeria?

13,000.

How many used the Law of Return to come from Morocco?

250,000.

How was the Law of Return a problem?

Israel faced many problems due to the immigration triggered by the Law of Return.

• ❖ Many immigrants had no money, little education and spoke many different languages.
• ❖ Many immigrants were traumatised from persecution.
• ❖ Housing and feeding all of the immigrants was very problematic and caused overcrowding and poor conditions. For example in one 'tent city' 56 people had to share each toilet and 350 had to share each shower.
• ❖ Unemployment was very high, especially in cities.
• ❖ Political divides occurred between 'old' and 'new' Israelis. Riots ensued.

What solutions were there for the problems that had risen from the Law of Return?

Several solutions tried to end the problems:

• ❖ Conscription to the IDF and their training united everyone.
• ❖ Jewish history and culture were emphasised and encouraged to unite people.
• ❖ Students were all taught in Hebrew.
• ❖ The Kibbutzim (communal farms) were set up to unite people in work.
• ❖ Religious leaders gained high profiles as they used the religion to unite everyone. Especially as these leaders decided if someone was deemed Jewish and therefore could use the Law of Return to apply for citizenship.
• ❖ The US granted Israel $100 million in 1949 and another grant of $200 million by 1960.
• ❖ Rationing was introduced in Israel for everyone for food, clothes and furniture.