Operation "Israel Guarantee" to rescue the Jews of Ukraine has begun:
with eager anticipation and with quite a bit of excitement - of the kind that can not be denied - the following waited for the Ben Gurion Airport reception for the 154 immigrants and refugees who landed at Ben Gurion Airport directly from Warsaw.
It is already clear to all present that these are special, truly historic days.
After 10 minutes, the doors opened and the stairs were connected to the plane's ramp.
The fluttering Israeli flags enveloped the sounds of "We brought peace to you" that were played in the background.
Then the immigrants began to get off the plane.
50-year-old Anna expressed a sigh of relief at her journey and immediately asked to be thanked.
"We have to fight to the end for the victory! I'm glad we finally got here," she said.
"A lot of people helped us along the way, especially Jewish organizations and people and I will not forget that."
Yakim (30) got up with her little daughter who was still in a baby stroller and could barely stand.
"I'm sure there will be a big increase and a lot of people who did not plan to go up - will do so now," she said excitedly.
Immigrating to Israel from the Ukraine, with sparkling eyes, Photo: Jonathan Shaul
"I am very proud to be here," said Anna, 20, from Kiev.
"This is my second home - now it's my first and I feel I need to be here, with my grandparents."
With sparkling eyes she added.
"I'm finally coming to Israel. After it was hard, too hard. I do not believe this is the end for Ukraine, and only hope for the best."
Half of the immigrants on the flight are women and in addition they have about 50 children up to the age of 18, including 6 babies.
A small group of 24 men also arrived on the flight - most of them under the age of 18 or over 60.
The current flight is one of three special flights landed today.
These included several hundred Jews from Ukraine in total who immigrated as part of a joint operation by the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, the Jewish Agency, and the Friends' Foundation.
The operation was also funded through donations from the Jewish federations in North America, Keren Hayesod and donors and friends of Israel from around the world.
In addition, the other two flights included refugee immigrants from Chisinau, Moldova, and another flight included about 100 Chabad-sponsored orphans who reported from Iasi in Romania.
Jews from Ukraine land at Ben Gurion Airport. "We will never forget this," Photo: Jonathan Shaul
Minister of Immigration and Absorption: "We will assist immigrants through all the resources in the hands of the government"
In practice, immediately after landing at Ben Gurion Airport, all immigrants in Israel will be absorbed by the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption. And temporary hotels, which were prepared in advance as part of the emergency plan for the absorption of Ukrainian Jews.
Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Temano Sheta said: "The sweet children I met at the airport caught up with me in the great excitement that enveloped them to arrive in Israel and receive a welcoming welcome, and a big hug. "I will help those children and other immigrants in all the resources available to the Israeli government while allocating a dedicated budget for their best absorption to go through the difficult period they are going through after escaping the fighting. I work in full cooperation with the co-ministers and all parties.
Acting Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Yaakov Hagoel, said: "The Jewish Agency, in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, the Friendship Foundation and other organizations, works around the clock to help Ukrainian Jewry in its difficult time and help bring immigrants from Ukraine to Israel."
I thank the Jewish communities, including the Jewish federations of North America, the Keren Hayesod, donors and friends who love Israel from around the world, who have joined an unprecedented aid operation for the Jews of Ukraine. "
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