A record number of children landed in Israel today as part of a unique aliyah programme.

The 106 children, from North America, arrived at Ben Gurion airport this morning as part of a Jewish Agency for Israel mission to facilitate the move of olim.

Gilad Shalit, a former IDF soldier and captive, welcomed the new arrivals on the so-called “Children’s Aliyah Flight”.

The children were joined by 125 new Israeli citizens.

Natan Sharansky, the chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, said: “The children and their parents who are arriving on this olim flight from north America represent the future of Israel and every one of them strengthens Israeli society.”