Title: Ukrainian Ambassador Urges Israel to Improve Relations Amid Immigration Policy Crisis
Subtitle: Warning Issued Against Possible Restriction of Entry for Israelis to Uman
Date:
In the midst of escalating tensions between Ukraine and Israel, the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, Yevhan Kornychuk, has called on the Israeli government to address the deteriorating relations between the two countries due to Israel’s immigration policy for refugees. Kornychuk also warned against the possibility of restricting the entry of Israelis to Uman ahead of the upcoming Rosh Hashanah celebrations, where tens of thousands of believers are expected to participate.
The ambassador’s warnings came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in a recent briefing that certain countries were not respecting bilateral visa agreements and arbitrarily blocking the entry of Ukrainian citizens. Although Zelensky did not name the countries in question, Ambassador Kornychuk confirmed on Sunday that his remarks were specifically directed at Israel. It has been revealed that since the beginning of the war, Israel has prevented over 4,700 Ukrainian citizens, including 2,000 since the start of this year, from entering the country. This is despite both countries having a visa-free tourist entry agreement in place.
“Why have a mutual agreement without an equal partnership?” expressed Kornychuk in an interview with ‘Davar’. “This issue has persisted for a long time, but it has become even more painful during the ongoing war, as discriminating against people whose homes are being bombed is particularly unjust.”
According to Kornychuk, the situation has worsened in recent months, leading to numerous complaints from Ukrainian citizens who were denied entry into Israel for purposes other than staying. Many individuals were forced to return at their own expense and some were forced to sleep on the airport floor for days due to being denied entry. Despite attempts to negotiate with Israeli authorities regarding the treatment of Ukrainian citizens, the situation has not improved and has even deteriorated.
In response to these claims, the Israeli Population Authority stated that Ukrainians already in Israel are not deported and emphasized that over 47,000 Ukrainian citizens entered Israel in 2022. The authority clarified that those whose entry was refused by the embassy were banned at the airport due to suspicions of their intention to stay in the country illegally. This, according to the authority, is part of an official and regulated inspection procedure that applies to citizens of all countries and is not specific to Ukrainians.
MK Moshe Arbel, Israel’s Minister of the Interior and Health, also responded to the ambassador’s criticisms, stating that Israel’s immigration policy welcomes tourists from numerous countries, including Ukraine. Arbel emphasized that Israel’s screening policy does not discriminate against any foreign citizen visiting the country, and reassured that the strong partnership between Israel and Ukraine will continue.
Refuting the immigration authority’s claims, Ambassador Kornychuk argued that Israel is openly violating a government-level agreement between the two countries. He highlighted Israel’s imposition of strict quotas on Ukrainian refugees since the war began, which has led to arbitrary selection processes at airports. Kornychuk also expressed concern about the treatment of refugees in Israel after the cancellation of refugee insurance, leaving thousands without coverage.
“If the deportation of Ukrainians from Israel does not cease, there will be a prohibition on the entry of Israelis into Uman, and Ukraine will terminate the visa cancellation agreement with Israel,” warned Kornychuk, emphasizing the potential consequences if the situation is not addressed promptly.
As tensions persist, both countries now face the challenge of resolving the immigration policy crisis to stabilize relations and maintain the longstanding partnership between Ukraine and Israel.