Posted on 05/21/23
| News Source: Arutz-7
In order to improve the landing process for new Olim into the State of Israel, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration will issue identity cards to new immigrants at its different branches throughout the country.
New immigrants will not have to go through the Interior Ministry like they did in the past and this will ease the overcrowding and difficulties in scheduling appointments at the Interior Ministry.
The Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer and the Minister of the Interior, Moshe Arbel agreed this morning (Sunday) to take immediate action and move forward with a new plan to issue Identity Cards (Teudat Zehut) to new Olim upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in light of the buildup created in the Ministry of the Interior throughout the country following the 'passport marathon' operation last week.
In a joint meeting held this morning at the Ministry of the Interior between the Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer, Minister of the Interior Moshe Arbel, Director General of Interior Ministry, Eyal Siso and Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah, it was agreed to hire additional staff at Ben Gurion Airport to ensure that new Olim are able to receive their ID cards upon arrival to Israel.
Starting next month, new immigrants arriving in Israel will receive ID cards at Ben Gurion Airport at the branch of the Aliyah and Integration Ministry on premises and will not have to go through the difficulty of scheduling an appointment at the Ministry of the Interior.
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 qualify as biometric Identity cards, so that the tens of thousands of Olim arriving in Israel will have no need to travel to the Interior Ministry offices.
To safeguard this initiative, the ministers will work to amend the existing legislation that allows only employees of the Ministry of the Interior to issue ID cards so that employees of the Ministry of Aliyah will be able to issue biometric identity cards to new immigrants.
Minister of the Interior, Moshe Arbel said: "Besides the passport-issuing operation 'Passport Marathon', which is taking place over the last in full force, the Population and Ministry of the Interior is not neglecting the new Olim. As I promised with the opening of the 'Passport Marathon', we are learning as we go. We are doing the best in our ability to balance the needs of the population with what the Interior ministry is able to offer. I congratulate my friend, Minister of Immigration and Absorption Ofir Sofer for his partnership and commitment to new Olim."
Minister of Aliyah and Integration, MK Ofir Sofer stated: "I thank my fellow minister, Moshe Arbel, for agreeing to my request to reach an immediate solution for the benefit of the new immigrants who are awaiting their ID cards. Minister Arbel understands the difficulty of new Olim trying to integrate and become citizens of Israel, and together with his staff, we have brought a quick and effective fix. 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."