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At the same time, an argument broke out in Israel regarding the timing of the immigration of Yemenite Jews. Disagreements did not concern the refugees in the Geula camp, in Sheikh Othman and in the city of Aden, and their situation deteriorated, but with regard to the rest of the Yemenite Jewish community there were differences of opinion in the Zionist leadership - the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government.

Opponents of the immediate rise of the Yemenite immigrants pointed to the difficult medical situation of the Yemenite immigrants and raised the concern that the State of Israel and its limited absorption capacity would not be able to cope with what was perceived as a burden. The State of Israel has just emerged from a state of war, and has coped with the rationing policy (austerity) with severe economic problems. The main argument was that at this stage it is preferable to raise the Jews of Europe alone and postpone the raising of the Jews of Yemen to a later and more convenient time.