On October 8, even prior to the disclosure of Israel-related news by several major media outlets, the Department of Aliyah Promotion within the World Zionist Organization, under the leadership of its North American director, Eugene Lekah, organized an emergency rally in New York City.

Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa, which existed for more than two thousand years, virtually disappeared in the 20th century.

Every year, about 10,000 repatriates with professions requiring licensing arrive in Israel.