The Supreme Court of Justice of Israel (High Court of Justice) by its decision canceled the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the country, Ayelet Shaked, to deprive Ukrainian citizens of the right to visa-free entry to Israel, which was introduced after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, NEWSru.co.il reports. Sunday.
“According to the decision of the High Court of Justice, citizens of Ukraine will be able to enter Israel for three months without the need to submit a special request for this. This practice was introduced by the decision of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs after the start of the war in Ukraine,” the report says.
It clarifies that the court also ordered the defendant (the State of Israel) to pay legal costs in the amount of 20,000 shekels.
As reported, Tomer Varsh’s law office in Israel filed a petition with the High Court against the decision of Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to limit the number of Ukrainian refugees in Israel to 5,000. The Embassy of Ukraine expressed support for the petition.
The plaintiffs demanded that the Israeli authorities adhere to interstate agreements on visa-free entry to Israel for citizens of Ukraine. The High Court of Justice at a meeting on March 21, given that the term of the “scheme” for accepting Ukrainian refugees, proposed by the Minister of Internal Affairs Ayelet Shaked, expires on March 27, and the Committee on Internal Affairs must discuss this issue on March 23, took the following decision: The defendants must submit an application for decision within 24 hours after it is made, but no later than March 28.
The embassy statement indicates that the court recognized the existence of legal decisions regarding the consideration of the issue of entry of Ukrainian citizens to Israel. The statement also said that “Interior Minister Shaked and the Knesset Home Affairs Committee will ‘rethink’ the current entry policy and allow the entry of Ukrainian citizens ‘without any preconditions’.”
Two citizens of Ukraine were killed in a terrorist attack in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak on March 29, Spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleh Nikolenko has said.
“Ukrainians lived in Israel for a long time, both residents of Chernivtsi region. The Embassy of Ukraine is currently taking measures to inform the relatives of the victims and provide them with consular assistance, and also interacting with the police as part of the investigation of the terrorist attack,” Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.
Israeli doctors have set up a field hospital in Lviv region to help Ukrainians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.
“Grateful to the State of Israel for setting up the ShiningStar field hospital in Lviv region. I thank its team of Israeli physicians and paramedics for their important humanitarian mission and tireless work to help Ukrainian men, women, and children at this difficult time,” Kuleba wrote on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has accepted an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the country on the condition that Kyiv makes significant progress in ceasefire talks with Russia, Israel’s Ynet news reported.
According to the publication, Bennett has already asked the country’s security service to begin preparations for his possible visit to Kyiv.
“In order to advance the negotiations, it is clear that in-person meetings are necessary. And they may happen down the road if negotiations reach a tipping point,” a source involved in the talks with the Ukrainians told Ynet.
“However, some security officials have expressed their misgivings about the risks entailed in the prime minister going into an active war zone, especially after a Russian bombing of the city killed at least eight people on Monday,” the report says.
“According to sources familiar with the matter, Zelensky and Ukrainian government officials have been pursuing a Bennett visit to Kyiv for the past ten days as they believe the visit would help expedite ceasefire talks with Moscow,” according to the edition.
Earlier this month, the Israeli prime minister visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
SkyUp Airlines (Kyiv), in cooperation with The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, operated 8 flights from Moldova to Israel from March 6 to March 17, which allowed 1,248 Ukrainians to evacuate to Israel under the repatriation program.
According to the company’s website, 83 pets went to Israel with the passengers.
SkyUp noted that in active cooperation with The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews the company will continue to organize evacuation flights. In particular, flights are already planned for another 1,500 Ukrainians.
“As a conscientious company, we understand that we must continue our operations for the good of the country – in order for Ukraine to have a bright future. I express my deep gratitude to The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova, the esteemed Ambassador Mark Oleksandrovych Shevchenko and personally to Serhiy Mykhailovych Humeniuk, who worked tirelessly to help our compatriots, as well as all those thanks to whom these flights take place. We are honored that our company can become a kind of bridge between Ukrainians and friendly countries, where people can feel security,” SkyUp Airlines CEO Dmytro Seroukhov said.
On Tuesday, Israel will open a field hospital in the city of Mostyska, Lviv region, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said.
“Israel will become the first country to open a field hospital in Ukraine. The official opening ceremony will take place today in the city of Mostyka, Lviv region,” Brodsky said on Twitter on Tuesday.
