"55% of repatriates don't feel at home in Israel": Alex Rif in Vesti studio

Alex Rif, a Knesset candidate from the Yashar party, stated in the Vesti studio that 55% of repatriates do not feel at home in Israel, and only 17% work in their profession. She accused the government of dividing repatriates into 'good' and 'bad' and of discrimination by the rabbinate. The party presented a 12-point plan, including civil marriages and protection of the Law of Return.

In the Vesti studio, Alex Rif, founder of the 'Million Lobby' organization and Knesset candidate from the Yashar party led by Gadi Eisenkot, spoke of a deep crisis in the system of absorbing repatriates. According to her, only 17% of new repatriates work in their profession, and more than half (55%) do not feel at home in Israel. Rif accused the current government of, for the first time, dividing repatriates into 'good' and 'bad', pushing out professionals: instead of supporting ulpans and credential recognition, officials send doctors and engineers to work as cleaners and electricians. She also reminded of discrimination by the Chief Rabbinate, citing the example of 22-year-old Alina Plakhtiy, killed on October 7 at the Nova festival, who was buried behind a fence due to religious restrictions. The Yashar party intends to promote civil marriage and remove dividing walls in cemeteries. The party's 12-point plan includes addressing the problems of 30,000 Holocaust survivors living on the brink of poverty, 90s repatriates with meager pensions, and combating phone and online fraud. Rif emphasized that her red line is the Law of Return and preserving the 'grandchild clause'. Representing the 'one-and-a-half generation', Rif explains her step into politics as a personal responsibility for the future of her three children. She believes the only way to prevent chaos is to take control into her own hands.