The Security-Political Cabinet is expected to convene this afternoon (Sunday) in the Prime Minister’s Office for the first time since the beginning of the fighting in Ukraine, and to discuss the possible implications for Israel politically, security-wise and economically. Later this week, a shipment of humanitarian equipment is expected to arrive in Ukraine, including generators, blankets, tents, winter equipment and medical equipment.
Over the weekend, Israel refrained from expressing support for a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the United States raised at the UN Security Council. A decision that ultimately fell, as expected, due to a Russian veto over it.
Yesterday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid instructed the staff of the Israeli embassy that moved from Kiev to Lvov last week to move from now on to stay on the Polish side of the border. The Foreign Ministry said that the embassy staff would cross the border into Ukraine every day in order to continue diplomatic work and help Israeli citizens get out of there as much as possible. According to the Lviv delegation, about 1,500 to 2,000 Israelis have left Ukraine in the last three days. Before the border crossings between Ukraine and its neighbors, there are long queues of cars for tens of kilometers, and the delegation reports hundreds of inquiries received by Israelis seeking assistance to cross.
Yesterday, a message was also sent to thousands of Israeli citizens who registered at the Israeli embassy in Ukraine and are in line at the border crossings. A statement said that they should display a prominent sign that would identify them as Israeli citizens in order to facilitate the teams of Israeli diplomats at the border crossings to assist them. “We ask all Israeli citizens who are at the border crossings to exit Ukraine to display on their bodies (whether pedestrians) or in their vehicles (if in vehicles) a prominent sign with the letters IL. In this way, Israeli representatives will be able to locate Israeli citizens in queues and assist them, if possible.”
Meanwhile, the war in Europe brought what seemed to be the end of the crisis between Israel and Poland. At the end of the week, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid instructed the departure of the Israeli ambassador to Poland, Dr. Yaakov Livna, to Warsaw. Livna is expected to come out today and submit his charter to the Poles soon. The crisis with Poland erupted against the background of the enactment of Polish law, which severely limits the possibility for the descendants of Holocaust survivors to return looted property. The Foreign Ministry said that “since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, headed by Commissioner Tal Ben-Ari Ya’alon, has been cooperating fruitfully with the Polish authorities in the effort to assist Israelis leaving Ukraine, and we would like to thank the Polish authorities for this assistance.”