Jewish Agency: Many immigrant soldiers not Jewish

[[MakkabI]]

Out of 8,000 new immigrants drafted into the IDF each year, about 3,000 are not Halachically Jewish, Jewish Agency Chairman Salai Meridor said Sunday.

Under Jewish law, a person is considered Jewish if his or her mother is Jewish, or has undergone an Orthodox conversion process.

Speaking at a meeting of young delegates Meridor said he would strive to enact a more "user-friendly" Orthodox conversion process for new immigrants.

He said that the Jewish Agency was pressuring the state into bringing all 4000 Falash Mora Ethiopians to Israel, whereas other organizations were being more selective.

"If we don't strive to bring them all, we will damage Israel's moral fibre," Meridor said.