The first batch of 400 out of the 20,000 Christian pilgrims have arrived in Israel for this year's Christian pilgrimage.

They arrived the Ben Gurion  International airport, Tel-a-Viv  at exactly 9:00 am Nigerian time on Sunday after taking off from the Murtala International airport in the early hours of Saturday.

The Israeli base National Carrier, TAT Aviation Israel, airlifted the pilgrims and, together with  Nigeria base Empire Aviation, will be involved in transporting pilgrims to and from Israel and Rome.

The executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Okpara, told our correspondent on phone yesterday that it was a smooth trip for the maiden flight for the 2009 pilgrimage, adding that the second batch will soon depart Nigeria.

According to him, 'The pilgrims arrived Ben Gurion Airport by 9:00am, and were received by  the Nigerian Ambassador to the state of Israel, Mr Olisa Dada,Israeli officials of the tourism and culture ministry, ground handlers  and some officials of the NCPC after which they were addressed  by the Chairman of NCPC, Arc Bishop Nicholas Okoh and himself  and deployed to commence the visit to spiritual and historical sites'.

Kennedy, who accompanied the first set of pilgrims with Akoh, said   about nine ground handlers had been put in place for the comfort and convenience of the visitors, assuring that the airlifting of the pilgrims commenced as scheduled and would also end as planned.

Kennedy said the pilgrims were advised to be of good behavior  while in the holy land, and not to do anything that will drag the name of the country into disrepute, and to shun vices such as abscondment.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan  had,  Saturday in  Lagos, flagged  off the 2009 inaugural flight for the pilgrimage at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed International airport.

Over 20,000 intending pilgrims from about 30 states are participating in this year's exercise, as against last year's 17,000.The NCPC officials have also signed a memorandum of cooperation with a number of ground handlers in Rome  and Israel who will serve as tour agents to Nigerian pilgrims when they land in the city for this year's maiden pilgrimage to Rome.

The chairman of NCPC, Arch Bishop Nicholas Akoh, Okpara and other commissioners and officials of the commission have visited both Rome and Israel where necessary arrangements and agreements were signed and put in place for the comfort of pilgrims.

Nationwide sensitisation has also been concluded.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved four air carriers for the 2009  pilgrimage which has also been extended to Rome, aside the regular state of  Israel.