Israel’s Foreign Ministry is continuing to urge Israeli citizens to get out of Ukraine, immediately, even if they are married to non-Israelis and/or have non-Israeli children and other family members.
Following a situational assessment on Saturday, the ministry issued an elevated travel warning, calling on Israeli citizens to leave the country in the face of “continued tensions and the fear of escalation.” Family members of diplomats and Israeli workers at the Embassy of Israel in Kiev are being evacuated, the ministry said.
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Foreign Minister Yair Lapid ordered a transition to working on an emergency footing, the ministry said in a statement, saying a “dedicated management team for this crisis” has been established with Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz at its head.
“The Israeli Embassy in Kyiv, led by Ambassador Michael Brodsky, will continue to operate with its full team of diplomatic staff remaining in the country. The Consular Division at the Foreign Ministry will reinforce the Embassy with additional staff in order to manage emergency consular matters,” the ministry statement said.
“There are 22 flights to Israel from Ukraine scheduled for this week,” including those of non-Israeli airlines, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Havat told JewishPress.com in a conversation on Saturday night. He emphasized that there are enough ways for Israelis to leave before any possible war.
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Amid fears of an invasion, Arkia and El Al both announced this weekend that they are increasing their flight schedule from Ukraine for Israelis staying in the country. Arkia is adding two flights – one from Kiev on Monday and one from Odessa on Tuesday. El Al announced it will add another flight from Kiev on Monday as well.
That works for Israeli citizens, but what about their non-Israeli spouses and children?
“It doesn’t matter if they leave to Israel or France,” Havat pointed out. “Just leave.”
But he added that for those whose family situations are complicated and who have specific questions about reaching Israel, “If there is a problem, the Embassy would love to help them.”
He emphasized, however, that Israel is not evacuating its citizens at this point. “We are not planning on sending any airplanes to pick people up at this time,” Havat added.
The Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine are calling on Israeli citizens presently in Ukraine to register through an online survey so that they can receive updated information in real time.
