India blocks airlift of Bnei Menashe

A much-publicized operation, in which members of the Bnei Menashe tribe were due to be brought to Israel from India, has been canceled for fear relations between the two countries will be harmed.
The Indian aviation authorities have refused to grant permission to an Israir flight to depart on November 12 with 812 members of Bnei Menashe, the largest number of members of the tribe wishing to immigrate so far.
The Bnei Menashe members underwent conversion about a year ago by emissaries of the Chief Rabbinate, without the knowledge of the Indian authorities.
The plane was leased from Israir by the Jewish Agency and the operation was funded by the Friendship Fund, whose donors are Evangelical Christians.
According to diplomatic sources, the Indian government is not favorably disposed to the conversion process nor any attempt to present the Bnei Menashe's departure from India as a mission of savior. Israel will therefore have to lower the profile of the operation and bring the Bnei Menashe here gradually, probably on regular El Al flights.
The Bnei Menashe believe they are members of the tribe of Menashe, part of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were dispersed by the Assyrians 2,500 years ago.
08/11/06 Amiram Barkat and Zohar Blumenkrantz/Ha'aretz, Israel

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