The Israeli cabinet adopted a plan last month to bring the remaining members of the Bnei Menashe community, a “Lost Tribe” which hails from the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, to the occupied territories.
According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, this decision approved the immigration of approximately 5,800 members to Israel by 2030, with 1,200 others already approved for 2026. The motion was advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Immigration and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister Zeev Elkin. Netanyahu described the move as an “important and Zionist” step, aimed at strengthening and developing the northern region.
The newcomers are set to reside in the Galilee, northern occupied Palestine, an area that has almost been emptied of its residents out of fear of Hezbollah’s missiles in the past two years. The cabinet allocated a budget of around $27 million to cover the transfer of the first wave of immigrants, including their flights, conversion classes, Hebrew lessons, housing and other benefits.
The Bnei Menashe community, established in 1951 by a group of Tibeto-Burmese jews in Northeastern India, self-identifies as a descendant from the biblical tribe of Manasseh — one of the ten “Lost Tribes”. The group originally practiced Christianity, until they finally gained recognition from the Chief Rabbinate upon converting to Judaism. Once transferred to the occupied territories, they are encouraged to adopt an Orthodox lifestyle.
Prior to 2005, Israel had not approved the community’s immigration, as they were not formally recognized as Jews under Israeli law. However, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar’s acknowledgement of the community as a “lost tribe” and a “seed of Israel” paved the way for the arrival of roughly 4,000 members over the past 20 years. While the private organization Shavei Israel had previously overseen these relocations, the newly approved plan is expected to delegate their direct supervision to the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency, in coordination with Indian authorities.
Notably, the Bnei Menashe community’s lineage has never been scientifically verified, drawing skepticism over the real purposes behind their transfer to northern occupied Palestine, amid ongoing security tensions and a wave of settler relocation from the region.
Source – Al Akhbar (English), December 17, 2025 (published under Creative Commons 4.0 licence)
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