Today, Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned his citizens who are in Ukraine to “return immediately.”
Bennett stressed that the Israeli government’s ability to “ensure their safety in emergency situations will be limited.”
This came in a brief statement issued by Bennett’s office, in which he said: “I call on the Israelis in Ukraine to leave immediately.” “Our ability to keep you safe and secure in an emergency situation will be limited,” he added.
Bennett said his government “is making great efforts in this regard,” noting that “more than 3,000 Israelis have left Ukraine (to return to Israel), but there are still many Israelis.”
The maximum estimate of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the number of Israelis in Ukraine was 14,000, while it is estimated that there are still about ten thousand Israeli citizens in Ukraine.
Bennett noted that “some airlines have already started canceling their flights (from Ukraine to Israel, and vice versa).”
Last Wednesday, Israel requested Russia’s help in evacuating citizens and diplomats in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Walla website, citing senior Israeli officials.
In a related context, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued an urgent appeal to the Israelis in Ukraine and said: “Leave the country immediately in anticipation of rapid and dangerous developments.”