Israel to roll out red carpet for 200 Indian Jews

JERUSALEM: Some 200 members of a north-eastern Indian community would be reuniting with their families in Israel soon where a red carpet welcome awaits them.

The members of Bnei Menashe community, which lives in Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram and claim to be one of the lost tribes of Judaism, will be immigrating to Israel after the government here has approved their request.

The members are drawn from fifteen extended families some of whose kins have immigrated to Israel in the past. The new immigrants will arrive in Israel from India in January by a special flight and will be received by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a festive ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport here, sources in the PM office said.

The Israeli government, especially Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, had been opposing their immigration to Israel for last three years, saying their "Jewishness was not certain".

Sheetrit, however, relented following a request from Cabinet secretary Ovad Yehezkel and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and decided to allow the group to immigrate.

Arrangements for the immigration would be made by the Shavei Israel organisation. Shavei Israel Chairman, Michael Freund, had recently approached the Prime Minister and requested for special permission to let 23 Bnei Menashe families to make 'aliyah' (immigration of Jews to Israel).