I never promised you a rose garden, or did I? A critical review of the Israeli diaspora immigration policy and its outcomes for immigrants from the Former Soviet Union

This article reviews the Israeli diaspora immigration policy and its outcomes for immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The paper consists of four parts. Part one discusses the Israeli entry policy focusing on the Law of Return. Part two discusses the practicalities of applying this policy to the FSU, describing the work of the Nativ Liaison Office and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Part three reviews the state's settlement policy for diaspora immigrants, focusing on financial help and language learning. The fourth and final part discusses the psychosocial adjustment of immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in Israel, comparing them with native Israelis, other diaspora immigrants in Israel, and Jews staying in the FSU. The analysis presented in the article is based on government documents, official statistical data, mass media publications, and research literature. The article concludes with policy recommendations.