JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel is moving its Ukrainian embassy in Kyiv to the western city of Lviv as fears of conflict with Russia mount.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid ordered the move after holding discussions with “a number of international bodies.” Lapid said Israel’s consular office in Lviv has been working since Thursday to issue travel documents to Israeli citizens trying to leave Ukraine.
The consular office in Lviv has been working to provide travel documents to Israeli citizens since Thursday (17/02/2022) and will assist citizens interested in leaving the country, primarily through land border crossings to neighbouring countries. (2/4)
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 21, 2022
…Moldova, and Hungary have held visits to border crossings with Ukraine, and meetings with the authorities at the crossings, in order to ensure the passage of Israeli citizens who wish to leave Ukraine. (4/4)
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 21, 2022
Israel’s Foreign Ministry says it is focused on getting Israelis out of Ukraine “primarily through border crossings to neighboring countries.”
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett repeated calls for Israelis in Ukraine to “come home.”
“I call on the citizens of Israel who are still in Ukraine, this is not the time to think it’ll be OK, it is better to have a little inconvenience now than actual danger to your lives later,” Bennett said.
There are reportedly about 15,000 Israelis in Ukraine, but so far, only about 3,000 have heeded warnings to return to Israel before it’s too late.
Russia is surrounding Ukraine on all sides with 150,000 troops, warplanes and other military equipment. Western leaders fear that a Russian invasion of its smaller neighbor is imminent or already underway.
On Monday, Putin recognized pro-Russian, separatist regions of Ukraine. He also signed a vaguely worded decree ordering Russian forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, dashing hopes that a military conflict may be avoided.
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