The Integration of Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union

Economic Integration of Immigrant Entrepreneurs

“…Since FSU immigrant entrepreneurs demonstrate low levels of both socio-cultural and economic integration, it can be concluded that they adopt marginalization strategy. This finding is consistent with previous studies on FSU immigrants in Israel, which stressed that FSU immigrants are inclined to maintain and even cherish the culture and identity of their origin (Horowitz, 2005;Kushnirovich 2007Kushnirovich , 2010Remennick, 2004). The important conclusion of this study is that socio-cultural integration is not necessarily associated with economic integration.…”

“…In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Former Soviet Union (hereafter FSU), the massive wave of immigration from FSU states began. FSU immigrants created a separate ethnic sub-group, which is characterized with developed ethnic communities (Horowitz, 2005;Kushnirovich 2007Kushnirovich , 2010Remennick, 2004). FSU immigrants are the largest group of immigrants, which constitutes more than 80 percent of the new immigrants who have entered Israel since 1990, and comprises today more than 10 percent of the Israeli population.…”

Dimensions of life satisfaction: Immigrant and ethnic minorities

“…For them, economic and employment motives were important in their decision to immigrate along with religion, anti‐Semitic, and security concerns (Amit, ; Lisak, ). FSU immigrants created ethnic niches connecting mainly with co‐ethnic individuals, and formed a separate sector within Israeli society with press and TV in their native language (Horowitz, ; Litwin & Leshem, ; Remennick, ).…”

“…Most of the Arab population lives in Arab localities, and only about 15 per cent live in mixed Jewish–Arab localities. Thus, Israel is a society deeply divided along national, ethnic, and religious lines (Al‐Haj, ; Horowitz, ). In this study, FSU immigrants can be regarded as a migrant minority and Israeli‐born Arab citizens as an ethnic minority.…”

Immigrants in the city: from exploration to domestication

“…Since a high percentage of newcomers emigrated from large industrial cities and had college degrees, primarily from technical schools, Haifa's profile met immigrants' aspirations for professional reintegration. 2 The Israeli government encouraged FSU immigrants to settle in peripheral towns, but they typically preferred key urban areas (particularly in central Israel) with better infrastructure for employment. Yet some were lured by the lower housing and living costs in the Haifa area (vs. Tel Aviv and Jerusalem) -an important consideration for FSU immigrants, many of whom arrived in Israel with few personal belongings.…”