Aliyah from the UK falls sixty percent due to Covid-19

In total 89 Brits began new lives in Israel in the first four months of 2020, down 146 year-on-year.

In January, prior to the lockdown, 32 people made aliyah, an increase of five on the previous year.

Yigal Palmor, head of external relations at the Jewish Agency, cited “objective obstacles” including “entry restrictions, general shutdown of government, lockdown regulation and lack of flights”.

Speaking to Jewish News, Shay Felber, deputy director of the Jewish Agency, said the process for making Aliyah had not ground to a halt. “People are still approaching us, and we still provide services, although with the difficulties of closed offices, and other a restrictions. We haven’t stopped dealing and taking care of those who want to come to Israel.”

He added that the Jewish Agency has adapted to the restrictions, with potential Olim invited to “send all the documents by mail to our offices, our representative will open them and then they will do an interview with you, without you coming to the office in person”.