Israel allocates NIS 90 M. to facilitate Russians fleeing war in Ukraine
Israel has approved a NIS 90 million (A$39m) budget to help facilitate the tens of thousands of Olim (immigrants) coming to the Jewish state in the coming months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Olim arrive in Israel. (IFCJ)
Following recent events in Russia and Ukraine, and especially that announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conscription of 300,000 civilians into military service to fight in Ukraine, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata submitted to the government on Sunday a decision that adds NIS 90 million for immigration absorption.
“We expect tens of thousands of Olim in the coming months. We are preparing for this and welcome this,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid said during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
A ministerial committee to map out the needs and government preparations for this wave of Aliyah approved the motion.
At least 5,400 Russians have arrived in Israel in the past days since Putin announced the conscription orders.
Israel has received about 40,000 refugees from Ukraine and the surrounding countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.
Israel Ministry of Ministry of Immigration and Absorption estimates that future trends in immigration to Israel pose a great challenge to the State of Israel, as the rate of immigration will continue and even increase due to geopolitical developments in the countries of the former Soviet Union and the continuation of the war in Ukraine.
The country is preparing for a wave of tens of thousands of immigrants who will come from Russia in the coming months.
