Betting big on the realty boom

Jews are planning to settle down in Israel after selling their property in Andhra Pradesh.

On October 22, when the who’s who of the country descended on Amaravati, the new dream capital of Andhra Pradesh, tensions between Palestinians and Jews reached another flashpoint in the city of Nablus, situated to the north of Jerusalem.

Well aware of both the developments were a group of people from Kothareddypalem of Guntur district, just 40 km from Amaravati. The self-proclaimed Telugu-speaking members of Jewish tribe “Ephraim” have started making grand plans to shift to Israel, thanks to the real estate boom in and around the new A.P. capital.

“Price of land in our locality has shot up 20 times. We are trying to raise money hoping that we will have enough to settle down in Israel,” said 66-year-old Shmuel Yacobi, representative of over 50 families who shot to limelight a decade ago when they claimed their ancestry to a Jewish tribe. “We have formally approached the Israeli government to help us migrate and offer citizenship but the process is taking time. So, we have decided to buy a piece of land with our own money and build guest houses as well as mobile homes on that plot.”

According to Mr. Yacobi, he will be travelling to Israel in December to zero in on the proposed site near Nablus city which is under Palestinian control.

‘Youth keen on relocating’

“Once we set up a centre there, we will take our people in batches of 10. They will be educated on the culture, language and ways of the country. Employment also would not be an issue as I have already been offered a teaching post in an educational institution. Agriculture and technology are other lucrative sectors to find jobs,” said Mr. Yacobi, who has visited Israel more than half a dozen times and has a son who is settled in Tel Aviv.

In the past, security agencies had arrested members of an Islamic terrorist module who allegedly wanted to target the community. Though the tribe members maintained that they have followed Jewish customs and were converted to Christianity after their migration to India, some have expressed doubts.

Source: The Hindu