West Asia war delays Bnei Menashe migration to Israel

AIZAWL: The proposed migration to Israel by the Bnei Menashe community members in Mizoram and neighbouring Manipur will be delayed due to the raging war in West Asia, a leader of the community in Aizawl said on Tuesday. The leader Jeremiah L. Hnamte told TOI that the 300 members of Bnei Menashe community from Mizoram and Manipur have already been selected by the 9 rabbis who visited Aizawl during the first part of December last year. Around 35 people including 9 rabbis, members of the Jewish Agency for Israel and diplomats of Israel embassy including the ambassador to India had been camping in Aizawl since December 1 last conducting screening of Bnei Menashe members who will first migrate to Israel.

Hnamte, who has been selected along his spouse and son, said though they were earlier scheduled to leave for Israel first in February and again in early March, the migration date has to be rescheduled due to war between the US-Israel combine forces and Iran. "We are expecting to be informed of the new schedule, most probably by the end of this week," he said, adding that the matter was also discussed at the congregation of the community held in the outskirts of Aizawl celebrating the Purim festival.

He, however, stated that it is yet difficult to predict the time of the migration in view of the war in West Asia as Israel itself is actively involved in the conflict. Israel has approved a plan to absorb nearly 6,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community residing in India's north-eastern states of Mizoram and Manipur, in a phase manner, by 2030, according to Benjamin Netanyahu's government decision announced recently.