IbnEzra, an Israeli peace activist in the West Bank, writes about moving to Tel Aviv a couple of years ago and pledging to stay for three years, in exchange for generous financial gifts from Israel and an American pro-immigration outfit:
I moved to Israel with my girlfriend at the time and she [and I each were] awarded
four thousand dollars. I had two friends that were studying with me and
also moving to Israel at the same time. They were younger but had just
gotten married. [The American group] Nefesh B'Nefesh awarded the married couple thirty thousand dollars.
My girlfriend and I, although not married, were awarded a total of
eight thousand dollars and they got thirty. Why? They were moving to
the settlements. Shiloh, if I remember correctly. This got me thinking.
What were the real motives behind this NBN operation anyway? According to their website,
one of the founders is a conservative rabbi who came up with the idea
of NBN after a relative was killed in a terror attack. The other
founder and chairman is the vice chairman of the Republican Jewish
Coalition in the United States. The pieces started to fall into place.
These people were giving extra money to immigrants from the United
States in order to move to the settlements. Their goals are to put
Americans in the West Bank and pay them handsomely to stay there.
A basic look at the NBN community guide
gives the impression that they are realtors for the West Bank. Look at
what is written about Tel Aviv and you see, “Tel Aviv is the city that
never sleeps. It is Israel’s center of the arts, finance, law, and
business, and it offers a wide variety of lifestyles, cultures and
around- the-clock places of interest to visit.” It is interesting that
they choose the word visit. If one is too read about Eftra, “Nestled in
the Judean Hills, with a commanding view of Gush Etzion and the
Jerusalem environs, Efrat has long been a popular destination for
English-speaking Olim. The reasons are clear to all who are familiar
with Efrat’s qualities. It boasts excellent schools, proximity to
Jerusalem, a supportive community, and a wide range of services.”
Sounds like a wonderland for new religious families. Sign me up!
