News

First Nativ emissary to Germany arriving this summer

Nativ, an organization that encourages immigration to Israel from former Soviet bloc countries, is to send its first emissary to German Jewish communities in about two months, after a delay of several months caused by opposition from the Jewish community and the German government.

Nativ operated covertly during the Cold War, but the need for it declined after the fall of the Soviet Union, which enabled the Jewish Agency and government representatives to work openly. Nevertheless, Nativ remains responsible for approving immigration applications from Jews in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The decision to expand its operations was made during the tenure of former strategic affairs minister Avigdor Lieberman. When Lieberman assumed this post a year and a half ago, he demanded and received responsibility for Nativ, which was formerly run from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

He also received added funding and approval to expand Nativ's operations to Germany. Some 200,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union have immigrated to Germany over the past 20 years.