Promising Land

Ariel Sharon’s arrival in New Delhi last week was greeted with hope in distant Mizoram. The 5,000-strong Bnei Menashe tribe, scattered through Manipur and Mizoram, feel that India’s newfound closeness with Tel Aviv will make their migration to Israel easier. Only 800 of them have been able to do so in the past decade. The Bnei Menashe, who claim descent from one of the 10 tribes that were driven from ancient Israel in 8th century BC by Assyrian conquerors, supposedly wandered towards China and finally landed up in this part of the country. Israel has been selective in granting permission for permanent migration to the Bnei Menashe.