The Israeli government has immediately allocated 90 million shekels (€25.6 million) to aid refugees from the war in Ukraine, particularly as many of the migrants are arriving in Israel in an unconventional hurry and have left home without prior preparation. The program will ensure the integration of the new wave of immigrants from Russia in the areas of housing, employment, education, and healthcare.
“Under my leadership, the Ministry of Finance will spare new resources to implement the emigration to Israel of Jews eligible for the Law of Return (people with at least one Jewish grandparent). This is Israel’s strategic asset and the biggest engine of growth since the state’s establishment,” Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman said, explaining the government’s decision.
“Israel is a safe and secure home for Jews around the world, and their move to Israel is exhilarating and exciting, whatever the reason,” said Minister of Immigrant Absorption Pnina Tamano-Shata, thanking her fellow ministers for the swift establishment of the program.
“The Ministry will ensure that all Russian immigrants arriving in Israel these days in difficult circumstances will receive a complete package to help them integrate optimally and quickly into Israeli society,” she added.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, more than 40,000 people have immigrated to Israel from affected countries since the outbreak of the war in February, including some 24,000 from Russia, the largest wave of immigration from the country in two decades.
