Israel Prepares to Evacuate Thousands of Jews from Ukraine, War Breaks Soon?

TEL AVIV – Top officials in Israel are said to be preparing a scenario in which they would fly tens of thousands of Jews out of Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion.

The news was revealed by the leading local newspaper, Haaretz, amid persistent Western accusations that Russia could be planning an all-out attack on Ukraine.

In a report on Sunday (1/23/2022), Haaretz claimed representatives from several Israeli government offices had met over the weekend to discuss the risk the Jewish community in Ukraine could potentially get caught up in the conflict.

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The briefings included those from National Security council officials; the ministry of defence, transportation, and foreign affairs; and those responsible for maintaining relations with the Jews living in the territory of the former Soviet Union.

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“Israel has long had plans for the mass repatriation of its would-be citizens if needed,” the report’s authors said, but the possibility of such an evacuation has been renewed in Ukraine amid growing fears of an attack from Russia.

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Observers estimate there may be as many as 400,000 Jews living in Ukraine, and about 200,000 people deemed eligible for Israeli citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return, with nearly 75,000 Jews living in eastern Ukraine.

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