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  Each year, approximately 30,000 people immigrate to Israel. Most immigrants are Jews from other countries. The Minister of the Interior oversees immigration to Israel. Commanders of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also have the authority to grant residency or citizenship to people in areas that they oversee. Two major laws govern Israeli immigration: the Law of Return, passed in 1950, and The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, passed on May 12, 2002.
  
  

Law Of Return

• In 1950, the Israeli government passed the Law of Return. This allows all Jews who want to move to Israel the right to settle in the country. The Law of Return gives automatic citizenship to Jews, regardless of their country of origin. In order to immigrate, a person must acquire an oleh's certificate. The oleh's certificate can be acquired in the person's home country, or once they are in Israel for tourism or another purpose. There are three cases where a Jew may be denied an oleh's certificate. If the person has engaged in activities that are anti-Israel or poses a health or security threat to the country, he or she cannot immigrate. Finally, in most cases, a person with a criminal background in another country cannot immigrate.
  
  

Residency

• The Ministry of the Interior or an IDF Commander can give a person a license or permit to reside temporarily in Israel for medical, economic or other reasons. Residency is granted for up to six months, but can be extended at the Ministry's discretion.
  
  

Children

• In order to prevent the separation of parents and children, the Ministry can grant a residency permit to a child under 12 who has a parent who legally lives in Israel.
  
  

Other Cases

• The Ministry of the Interior or an IDF Commander can give citizenship or legal residency to a person who lives in Israel as long as the person identifies with and supports Israel. The Ministry or IDF Commander can also grant citizenship or legal residency to any person who performed an action that benefited Israel's security, economy or helped the country in some other way. This provision is also extended to family members of the person who performed the action.
  
  

Pending Cases

• If a person applied for citizenship before May 12, 2002 and the case is undecided, the government can grant the person a residence permit while the case is pending.