Immigration to Israel this year reached its highest point in more than two decades, with 70,000 new arrivals from 95 countries, according to The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The figures show a dramatic increase from the estimated 28,600 who arrived in 2021, with the number of Russian immigrants this year alone exceeding that with 37,364. The country with the next highest number of immigrants to Israel in 2022 was Ukraine with 14,680; 3,500 North Americans emigrated, as did 2,049 French, 1,993 Belarusians, and 1,498 Ethiopians.

"It was a dramatic year that emphasized the value of mutual responsibility among the Jewish people and during which The Jewish Agency helped strengthen the resilience of Jewish communities, empowered weaker populations in Israel, brought tens of thousands of olim [immigrants], saved lives from all over Ukraine and brought them to a safe harbor in Israel. Aliyah is of existential importance to the state of Israel, both at the practical and moral levels," Jewish Agency Chair Doron Almog told The Times of Israel.

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