India, Under Christian Pressure, Blocks Migration of Bene Menashe To Israel

IANS reports today that the Indian government has refused to grant permission for nearly 200 Bnei Menashe members to emigrate from the country's northeaster state of Mizoram to Israel. After the Bene Menashe were recognized by the Israeli rabbinate as descendants of ancient Israelites, a group of rabbis came to India and converted the Mizo Jews-- who had been born as Christians. While Israel had planned to welcome the group under its Law of Return, a group of Christians in India apparently filed a formal protest with the Indian external affairs ministry and home ministry. They wanted the planned migration blocked and the conversions of the Bene Menashe stopped. Since 1994, some 1000 Bene Menashe members have migrated to Israel from Mizoram and its neighboring state of Manipur.