NEW YORK (JTA) — Israel’s government announced it would more than double its investment in the popular Birthright Israel program.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the announcement Thursday night before 3,000 program participants in Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post reported.
"My government will give more than double its investment in Birthright, and over the next few years we will invest more than $100 million in Birthright," said Netanyahu, according to the Post. "Together with private donations we can increase the number of people to 50,000 a year."
Considered one of the most successful initiatives in the Jewish world, Birthright Israel provides free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults aged 18-26. Some 30,000 people participate in the program each year; more than a quarter-million have participated since its inception in 2000.
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