Moving to Israel

An old saying often used by Olim - How do you make a million dollars in Israel? Make Aliyah with 2 million.

The Finance Ministry of Israel has come up with a plan to further increase the economic divide between rich and poor - if you’re rich you don’t have to pay taxes.

According to the plan recently posted on Arutz7, any wealthy Jew who makes Aliyah would be exempt from paying taxes for the first 10 years. The ministry claims that as of now the exemption will be only on income that originates from outside of Israel. If one were to ponder on the finance ministry’s track record, a full tax exemption for the rich is not far behind. Just another step closer to ultimate goal of turning the average Israeli worker into a modern day slave,

Corruption in the Israeli political sphere is rampant and may be the real force pushing this new plan. Rich Israeli’s are very successful when it comes to wooing Israeli politicians and getting laws passed in the Knesset that benefit the rich and trodden on the poor.

In what seem as an almost unbelievable show of interest, due to huge differences in salaries and living standards, 152 American doctors have approached Nefesh B’Nefesh to inquire into the “Doctors’ Aliyah” program. The program was established recently in order to stem off the wave of brain drain that has hit Israel. Many highly trained professionals, largely from the medical field, have left Israel to search for jobs in countries with better financial opportunities and less government interference and corruption.

The “Doctors’ Aliyah” project would give a $60,000 grant to any doctor who makes Aliyah. Despite the monetary grant, many doctors still remain reluctant to move to Israel due to the large gap in salaries and quality of living.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared the establishment of a high level committee whose goal will be to to alter Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora. In what some may call a revolutionary change, Israel is to take a more direct role in Diaspora affairs, to give and not just take. Although some believe there is more to this recent media spin by Mr. Olmert.

According to Mr. Olmert, Israel should not be seen as a poor and needy state, always in need of financial support from Diaspora. According to figures presented by the the prime minister’s office, the financial situation in Israel would get along fine without the monetary supplement.

But financial experts have claimed this for years, so why is the prime minister’s office only waking up now.

Perhaps there is a connection to a statement made by Mr. Olmert at the recent high level peace summit held in Annapolis. During the negotiations Mr. Olmert was under heavy pressure from the Diaspora not to negotiate over the division of Jerusalem. Such an event would bring Palestinian controlled areas to the doorstep of Jerusalem neighborhoods, and possibly a Sderot situation would follow. Mr. Olmert, in a one sided self indulgent manner, basically told the Diaspora that Jerusalem is non of their business. Apparently, in his opinion only Jews who move to Israel can have a say in Jerusalem’s future.

Is the establishment of the high level Diaspora committee an attempt to repair the strained relationship? Or perhaps it’s an attempt to control political opinions in the Diaspora and stifle future complaints.

Another reason could be the incredible budget increase shadily approved for the prime minister’s office. In a time where all other ministries in Israel are tightening their belts, Mr. Olmert, in his usual manipulative way, has succeeded in doubling his ministries budget from 300 million shekels in 2005 to 770 million shekels for 2008 . Perhaps he is looking for expenses to justify this budget increase. The public will surely find out when Mr. Olmert’s next corruption scandal comes out in the press.