Russia-Ukraine tensions are increasing. Meanwhile, Israel has extended a helping hand to Ukraine. Israel has long drawn up plans to expel Jews from many countries if needed. Rising tensions have updated those plans for Ukraine. Israeli officials said Israel and aid groups were ready to help Ukraine’s Jewish community in the event of a war. Earlier in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, Israel also helped Ukraine.
Israeli officials said they did not expect nationwide chaos. If this happens, a massive airlift will be required. But Israel will be ready to act if needed. In May 1991, an El Al Jumbo jet of the Israeli Air Force airlifted more than 14,000 Ethiopians from war-torn Addis Ababa. At that time this operation was under the supervision of Israel’s current Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
According to a report in Ukrainian Jews
Haaretz newspaper, officials from Israel’s defense and foreign ministries and other security branches had a meeting in January to assess the potential wartime needs of Ukraine’s Jewish communities. Israel’s foreign ministry, however, did not comment on the report. Also said that it is preparing its citizens in Ukraine to face trouble. However, an Israeli advisory said citizens should consider leaving Ukraine immediately. It also said that evacuation of family members of embassy employees would be started soon.
Russia cordoned off Ukraine’s border
, amid rising tensions between Russia and the West and fears of a possible Moscow attack on Kiev. Russia has stockpiled tanks, warships, artillery and missiles and thousands of troops along its border with Ukraine. Israel’s Immigration Minister Panina Tamano-Shata said, “We are prepared for all circumstances,” Israeli news outlet Ynet was quoted as saying. According to the information, more than 100,000 Jews live in Ukraine. The aid group was involved in helping thousands of Jews who were homeless from Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region when the war broke out in 2014.
US President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone to quell the Biden Fail controversy ahead of Putin’s insistence, which was inconclusive. During the talks, Biden appealed to Putin to postpone the war and also warned that if there was a war, Russia would get a befitting reply. At the same time, Russia even called America crazy.
Shortly after the talks, the US sent instructions to evacuate its embassy in Ukraine. Security officials said that the talks between the two top leaders about the stability of the situation have not been made.
History of the Jews in Ukraine The history of the Jews in
Ukraine is more than a thousand years old. They developed the most distinctive modern Jewish religious and cultural traditions, such as Hasidism. According to information, the Jewish community in Ukraine is the third largest Jewish community in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. At times the Jewish community faced persecution and discriminatory anti-Semitic policies.
