Jewish immigrants fleeing the war in Ukraine and orphans from the Alumim orphanage in Zhytomyr arrive at a temporary accommodation in Moshav Nes Harim, central Israel, March 6, 2022. (Flash90)

(JTA) — In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Israel is ready to take in 5,000 new non-Jewish Ukrainian refugees and to allow 20,000 non-Jewish Ukrainians who are already in the country, many illegally, to remain.

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked made the announcement Tuesday. Israel’s Law of Return normally offers citizenship only to people with at least one Jewish grandparent.

Israel had previously courted controversy for demanding a deposit from non-Jewish migrants of around $3,000, to make sure that they would eventually leave. That stipulation has been dropped.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Israel is also preparing to receive several thousand Jewish Ukrainians in the coming months. Over 300 arrived last weekend.

“The sights of war in Ukraine and the suffering experienced by its citizens rattle the soul and don’t allow us to remain indifferent,” The Times of Israel quoted Shaked as saying at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reported that 440 Russian Jews arrived in Israel on Wednesday, as that country’s economy buckles under the sanctions imposed by the West.

—
The post Israel to allow 25,000 non-Jewish Ukrainian immigrants to stay appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount