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El Al, in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption is attempting to persuade Israelis living overseas; to visit Israel on the occasion of Israel’s 61st Independence Day; with heavily discounted air fares.

For an Israeli living in Europe, the cost of the return fare will be $150 and for those living in the United States $300, excluding tax.  The offer is subject to the authorization of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, who will decide if the person applying is eligible under the criteria of “returning citizen”.

According to El Al the current offer is a continuation of the program started by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in 2008 “Returning home for Israel’s 60th”.  The campaign, which continues until the end of 2009, has so far succeeded in bringing to Israel about12,000 eligible Israelis.

Haim Romano, CEO of El Al commented that since its creation, El Al has always been at the center of events that are important to Israelis and to Jews. “To this day El Al continues to lead the way in bringing Israelis and Jews home to Israel, from wherever they are in the world”.

Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, Erez Halfon commented that Israel’s 60th year had been a dramatic one for bringing Israelis back home.  From the time of the start of the campaign, initiated by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, some 12,000 Israeli citizens had returned.

Halfon estimated that following the considerable efforts and resources invested by the Ministry to bring Israelis home, a large number of families decided that they would prefer to raise their children in Israel and to help contribute to the strength, security and economic success of the country.