The Finance Ministry’s Accountant General’s Office stated that the meetings in London were held with investment managers to encourage immigration as a means to attract investors to Israel.
By Nati Tucker, Reposted from Haaretz, August 01, 2025
Israel Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich and Finance Ministry Accountant General Yali Rothenberg traveled to London last week to meet with wealthy Jews considering immigration to Israel, presenting them with various potential tax benefits, Haaretz has learned.
According to sources in the Finance Ministry and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the visit marks an unprecedented move: senior government ministries’ officials personally traveling abroad to meet affluent Jews and outline their eligibility for tax incentives.
The meetings were held as part of small gatherings in affluent Jewish neighborhoods in London. According to the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the trip, which lasted roughly a day, was initiated by the ministry’s director general, Avichai Kahana.
In recent months, the ministry noted, similar meetings with prospective immigrants have taken place, some attended by Israeli government officials, including representatives from the National Insurance Institute.
However, the involvement of senior Finance Ministry officials in such events is highly unusual and, to the ministry’s knowledge, unprecedented.
Israel’s Tax Authority confirmed that the purpose of the visit was to present potential immigrants with available tax benefits. The Finance Ministry’s Accountant General’s Office stated that the meetings were held with investment managers to encourage immigration as a means to attract investment to Israel.
The Finance Ministry said in response to the Accountant General’s participation in the visit: “The ministry invests considerable effort in promoting the growth of the Israeli economy, including by encouraging the immigration of investors to Israel.”
“At an event initiated by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, attended by senior executives from investment firms with the potential to immigrate, the Accountant General took part to leverage the ministry’s capabilities to attract investors to Israel. We believe these efforts will bear fruit and help drive a surge in investment in the Israeli economy.”
The Israel Tax Authority stated that its director “was invited by the director general of the Aliyah and Integration Ministry to join a delegation to London for an event aimed at encouraging immigration to Israel.”
“Aharonovich and another representative from the authority presented potential immigrants with the tax benefits available to new immigrants under Israeli law.”
Nati Tucker is an Israeli journalist.
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