Mayor woos British Jews

Haifa mayor Yona Yahav flew to the UK last week to persuade more British Jews to move to Israel and settle in his city, reports Yediot Haifa.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY
Haifa mayor Yona Yahav flew to the UK last week to persuade more British Jews to move to Israel and settle in his city, reports Yediot Haifa. Yahav focused his efforts on tertiary students interested in hi-tech careers, urging them to study at the Technion. According to the report, a similar recruitment drive in France last year won dividends, with a number of French Jews arriving to settle in Haifa - although several have reportedly since complained about bureaucratic and other difficulties. Last week, at the initiative of the Jewish Agency, Yahav outlined the advantages of Haifa for British Jews, and in particular for tertiary students. As part of the tour, he was expected to lecture to Jewish students at Cambridge University. A municipal spokesman said the idea of studying at the Technion and working at hi-tech companies nearby was very attractive for Jews from abroad, and the city was working with local companies to enlarge the number of hi-tech jobs available.