Press Statement By David R. Parsons, ICEJ Senior Vice President & Spokesman

Last week, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) sponsored the largest group of Jewish immigrants to arrive in Israel from the United Kingdom in the last 15 years. A total of 44 new British immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on a special Aliyah flight last Thursday (07/08) organized by The Jewish Agency for Israel and funded by Christian donors of the ICEJ.

The new arrivals are part of a group of 50 British Jews whose immigration flights to Israel this summer are being funded by a single Christian donor through the ICEJ-USA branch. Among the new arrivals on this latest Aliyah flight from the UK were several multi-generational families with babies and young children all the way up to grandparents. They left the British isles for Israel against a backdrop of rising antisemitism and growing insecurity for Jewish communities across Europe.

Since the October 7 massacres by Hamas nearly two years ago, more than 45,000 Jews have immigrated to Israel from around the world, with the ICEJ assisting over 5,200 of these new arrivals during their Aliyah journey. Aliyah from Britain in particular has surged dramatically. In 2024, 676 British Jews immigrated to Israel – nearly double the 336 who came the year before. Many cite the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Britain as a key factor in their decision to leave for Israel.

“It was a special and moving moment, to participate in the flight that brought the largest Aliyah group from Britain in more than a decade,” said Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President for Aid and Aliyah, who accompanied the group on their journey from London to Israel. “Seeing these families step off the plane, full of hope for a new life in their ancestral homeland, was incredibly inspiring.”

Supporting Jewish immigration to Israel has always been a core part of the ICEJ’s mission, but the urgency of Aliyah has intensified since October 7. Over the past two years, the Christian Embassy has invested millions of shekels in flights, temporary housing, and integration assistance for new Israeli immigrants.

“Our support for Aliyah from Britain and so many other countries is meant to express our solidarity with the Jewish people in this difficult time they currently are facing worldwide due to the worrisome increase in global antisemitism,” said ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler. “We want to help every Jewish family we can to return to their historic homeland in Eretz Israel. Thus, we are greatly pleased and honored to support this latest group of Jews making Aliyah from Britain.”

Since its founding in 1980, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has assisted more than 190,000 Jews in making Aliyah, working in cooperation with The Jewish Agency and other partners to fulfill the biblical promise of the Jewish return to their ancient homeland.

Main photo: British Aliyah flight group sponsored by ICEJ arriving at Ben Gurion Airport. (Photo credit: ICEJ)

David R. Parsons is an attorney, author, journalist, ordained minister and Middle East specialist who serves as Senior Vice President & Spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.