Sharp rise in Ukrainian immigration to Israel as Jews flee unrest

Jewish new immigrants from Ukraine registered higher at Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in the 1st 3 months of the year, with an increase of 43% over the same period last year.

 

 

Responding to escalating unrest in their country, hundreds of Jews have been fleeing Ukraine since the start of year and heading to Israel.

General view of Kiev's Independence Square

General view of Kiev’s Independence Square, the epicenter of the country’s recent unrest, Ukraine, on a mourning day Sunday, February 23, 2014. – Photo: AP

Preliminary figures indicate that the pace picked up markedly in recent weeks with more than 250 new immigrants from Ukraine registered at the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption since the beginning of April.

This sharp upturn, ministry officials said, could also be connected to the resumption of work last week at Israeli Foreign Ministry following a lengthy strike. Foreign Ministry staffers handle visa applications.
 

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