Budget Debate on Immigrant Funding Equity
The Knesset’s Committee on Aliyah, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, chaired by MK Gilad Kariv, held a special debate on the grant policy of Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption for 2025.
Although the budget allocated to associations increased significantly from approximately 3 million shekels in 2024 to nearly 8 million in 2025 several lawmakers and representatives of immigrant organizations questioned the distribution criteria and their practical outcomes.
A Larger Budget, but Flawed Distribution
MK Kariv noted that the budget increase is positive, but emphasized that “the test of the results points to a failure in the distribution of the grants.” According to figures presented at the committee, around 50% of the funds were channeled to sectoral-religious associations—something that, in the view of several participants, does not reflect the diversity or the real needs of immigrant communities.
MKs Evgueni Sova and Tatiana Mazarsky called for an urgent review of the criteria. Sova stressed that funds should prioritize housing, employment, language acquisition, and basic welfare not ideological agendas. Mazarsky, drawing on her own experience as an immigrant, underscored the importance of respectful and accessible integration that fosters a genuine sense of belonging.
For his part, the Ministry’s Director-General, Avichai Cohen, defended the reform in the grant policy, stating that the number of supported associations has grown and that there is no discrimination against specific communities. He argued that, according to surveys conducted among immigrants, there is also a need to invest in community connection and social resilience.
The Perspective of Immigrant Organizations
Eliyahu Shaul, Executive Director of the Council of Immigrant Organizations, participated in the debate and offered a direct perspective from the field.
Shaul explained that while organizations remain open to dialogue with the Ministry’s Director-General, a meeting has already been scheduled with the Deputy Director-General to specifically address the budgetary challenges affecting numerous immigrant associations.
His main point was clear: a considerable portion of the budget was allocated to organizations whose primary mission is not immigrant support. Meanwhile, associations that work exclusively with immigrants dedicating 100% of their efforts to guidance and integration received no funding.
According to Shaul, this creates a troubling distortion: resources intended to strengthen representative and specialized organizations are instead diverted to entities whose focus is not primarily on absorption.
Training Yes, Replacement No
Another key point raised was that organizations not specifically dedicated to immigration—but that provide assistance to immigrants could receive professional training from the Ministry.
For example, the Ministry could train their staff in migration-related cultural awareness, case management, and understanding the specific realities of each community. However, Shaul emphasized that funding for such entities should not come at the expense of organizations fully dedicated to immigrant support.
He maintained that financial assistance must prioritize those whose core mission is the defense of rights, legal guidance, employment counseling, and resolving concrete day-to-day challenges.
The Case of the Latin Community
Regarding the Latin community, it was noted that a limited budget was granted for legal assistance. While this support is important for exercising rights and receiving legal guidance, it does not cover other essential aspects of community life.
No additional funds were allocated for cultural activities, community strengthening, or other projects specific to the Latin community. In other words, the support was partial and restricted, leaving other key needs unaddressed.
Toward a Review of the Criteria
The committee chair concluded by calling for a renewed review of the distribution criteria and announced a follow-up meeting in the coming weeks. Among the proposals raised were the creation of a separate category for representative immigrant community organizations and a better balance between direct individual assistance and community-based initiatives.
The debate highlighted an underlying tension: how to distribute a limited budget in a fair, transparent manner consistent with the Ministry’s core mission ensuring the effective absorption and integration of immigrants into Israeli society without sidelining the organizations that work daily on the ground.
The discussion will continue, but the message from immigrant organizations was clear: increasing the budget is a positive step, yet the true measure of success lies in ensuring that resources reach, fairly and as a priority, those who need them most.
