Mass Migration Social and Economic Challenge

Dimensions and Composition Total Total 101,800239,580170,220175,13024,370711,800 From Europe 76,550 75% 121,960 51% 84,050 49% 50,240 29% 6,640 27% 339,440 48% Asia- Africa 12,930 25% 110,870 49% 83,410 51% 123,780 71% 17,120 73% 348,110 52%

Mass Immigration Policy Demographic interest +The long awaited open gates +The Pro-Israel Jewish consensus +The active Holocaust Survivors +The destruction of European Jewry +The Muslim countries new reservoir Israeli active Initiative

Absorption Policy - A  Circumstances and Consequences :  War Exhaustion during European immigration  Recruiting survivors to the battle front  Abandoned Arab villages and cities  settlement of immigrants in former Arab neighborhoods

Absorption Policy - B Circumstances and Consequences  Economic crisis  Immigrants without means  No employment or housing  Temporary sheltering poor conditions  Affecting mainly immigrants from Asia- Africa

Absorption Policy C “Melting Pot” and survival strategies  == a. To educate-modernize immigrants  == b. Cultural transformation of New Jews  == c. To settle the entire country  == d. Population distribution to peripheries  == e. To focus on the future and forget the past

Social Implications The gap between old-timers and new immigrants Ethnic split: =European (Ashkenazi) better off =Asian-African (Mizrahi) worse and feeling neglected Frustration of Holocaust survivors

Political implications UN Resolution 194 December 1948 Clash with the Arab Refugees “Right of Return” Internal implications – ethnic radicalization (The Black Panther” and Wadi Salib Riots) On the longer run: Rebellion against Mapai rule