From the beginning of the war in Ukraine until yesterday morning, 6,005 Ukrainian citizens who are not entitled to the Law of Return have entered Israel.
This emerges from cross-referencing data between the Nativ Agency, which deals with bringing immigrants to Israel, and the Ministry of Absorption and the Population and Immigration Authority.
Sources in the immigration system talk in internal talks about "planes full of Ukrainians, Belgians and other countries, on their way to Israel," following the new gate opening policy announced last night by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked.
PM Bennett on the refugee outline: "We are managing the crisis with sensitivity, reaching out to help as much as possible" // Photo: GPO
According to estimates by professional sources, following the Israeli policy, there will be a large wave of Ukrainians who will try to enter Israel, even if they do not have family members or friends in the country.
Yesterday, several Ukrainian citizens who had previously tried to enter Israel in the past under false pretenses arrived at the airport and were deported. In one case, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Michal Gonen-Agmon ruled that despite the applicant's problematic history, In Israel. "
The estimate is based on the cumulative data from the pre-war period.
The number of illegal immigrants from Ukraine was about 15,000, the highest of any country in the world.
The numbers skyrocket
Sources in the immigration system believe that once Israel announces an expansionary policy, the message will be passed back to Ukrainian refugees in Europe, and they will take advantage of the situation to come to Israel.
Meanwhile, "Israel Today" has learned that even with the arrival of Russian citizens in Israel, there has been a huge jump since the outbreak of the war.
According to the Population and Immigration Authority, 6,126 Russian residents have arrived in Israel in the past two weeks, with 138 of them denied entry.
This is double the amount recorded in January and February - when about 3,000 Russian citizens entered the country.
New gate opening policy.
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
According to Nativ data, 1,300 of them were issued immigration visas, and they entered as new immigrants. The rest entered through Ben Gurion Airport as tourists, with an estimated 70% of them eventually applying for immigrant status.
Senior government officials and immigration officials told Israel Today that preparations must be made for the continuation of the war and the aggravation of the situation in Russia, which will also result in a large wave of asylum seekers who are not entitled to the Law of Return.
"Policy Meanings"
"We can not create a policy of immigration that supersedes Russia and Ukraine. Such an approach also has policy implications," a senior government official said.
It was also learned that the policy of accepting their Ukrainian refugees as relatives or friends in Israel was preceded by an argument between Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Minister Zeev Elkin.
Professionals warned that an expansionary policy would invite a large wave of refugees, which would be difficult to get out of Israel afterwards.
On the other hand, Elkin claimed that the refugees who come to Israel are of high economic status, so they have no interest in settling in the country.
It should be noted that according to data from the Population and Immigration Authority, since the Russian invasion 8,500 Ukrainians have arrived in the country.
Of these, 8,247 entered the country and 253 were refused.
Participating in the preparation of the article: Yuri Yalon
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