December 25, 1991

Massive Russian Jewish immigration to Israel occurs after the fall of the Soviet Union. Arab states, the PLO, and local Palestinians are fearful that the territories held by Israel since 1967 would house huge numbers of newly arriving Jews. Jordan is especially concerned that Palestinians will be forced into Jordan, exacerbating social tensions. Fears that new Russian Jews would settle predominantly in the West Bank were later proven unfounded. Between 1989 and 2009, 990,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union increased Israel’s population by 20%.