Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Ukraine and fears of a further Russian invasion, 75 new immigrants from the Eastern European country arrived in Israel on Sunday to find a new home in the Holy Land.
“Israel will always be your home,” said Minister of Immigration Pnina Tamano-Shata in welcoming the newest citizens of the Jewish state. “Our gates are open to you, in normal times as well as in times of crisis. We are happy to welcome dozens of immigrants from Ukraine today, and we are ready to welcome thousands more – anyone who wants to come to Israel.”
The flight for the new immigrants was organized by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Jewish Agency and the Israel Ministry of Immigration. More than half of the new immigrants asked to settle in northern Israel. Thirty-five will live in and around Haifa and 15 more in Naharia. Other places are Akko, Carmiel, Nof Hagalil and Tsefat (Safed).
Thirty-five more immigrants are to settle in the center of the country and 17 in the south.
