Photo Credit: Yishai Fleisher
Yishai Fleisher welcomes an Aliyah flight

Israel’s government decided on Sunday to issue national identity cards to new olim (immigrants), at its main airport in a move to reduce crowds and wait times at the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapnim) offices.

Starting in June, new immigrants arriving in Israel will receive ID cards at Ben-Gurion Airport through a branch office of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

Advertisement




This will eliminate the need for immigrants to go through the difficult process of scheduling an appointment at the Ministry of the Interior.

“We are doing the best of our ability to balance the needs of the population with what the Interior Ministry is able to offer. I congratulate my friend, Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer, for his partnership and commitment to new olim,” Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said in a statement.

Sofer said, “Immediate issuance of identity cards will allow the new olim to start leading a proper lifestyle in Israel. This is great news for aliyah, and I pledge to do whatever possible to help olim become more comfortable in Israel.”

The ministers also agreed that they will work together so that the ID cards issued to new olim by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration will be biometric identity cards, which until now are only issued at Interior Ministry offices.


Share this article on WhatsApp:
Advertisement

SHARE
Previous articleMinister Barkat Tells Trust Competition Authority Head to Resign
Next articleWatch: Car Shot Near Evyatar
www.JNS.org is an independent, non-profit business resource and wire service covering Jewish news and Israel news for Jewish media throughout the English-speaking world.