Under the name “Safe Return,” the Israeli government is planning to repatriate 100,000 to 150,000 Israelis who have been stranded abroad, with flights also being arranged from Athens.
As announced on Monday by the country’s Transport Minister, Miri Regev, the repatriation operation will be coordinated and supervised at all stages by a special body to be set up by the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Army, and the National Emergency Authority (RAHEL).
According to Ms. Regev, private airlines and the Israeli shipping company Mano Maritime will participate in the plan to return Israeli citizens to their homeland, both by air and by sea.
As Ms. Regev said, the Ministry of Transport had initially requested the Ministry of Defense to participate in the operation with military helicopters and aircraft, but the Air Force was unable to respond due to restrictions imposed by the situation.
Regev noted that “We will do everything to bring Israeli citizens home,” the transport minister said, but stressed that “it will take time to do this, it will not happen overnight.” She also urged Israelis stranded abroad “not to worry about anything.” “You are abroad, enjoy it,” she said.
Removal of non-Israelis from the country
Along with the return of Israeli citizens to Israel, there are plans to remove non-Israelis from the country, including teenagers who participated in Birthright programs and tourists, as Ms. Regev said, “there is no reason for them to be in the country at this time.”
Opposition reactions
Criticism of the government for the delay in planning and executing the repatriation plan, but also for Ms. Regev’s message, with the leader of the National Unity party, Benny Gantz, emphasizing in a message to the Israeli minister via Twitter that it is finally time for action.
“An elderly woman is waiting for surgery. A young woman whose husband was killed in the war traveled for a few days and left behind her 4-year-old child. These are just two cases out of thousands of people who need to return to their homeland. Your role and the role of the government is not to tell citizens what to do, but to bring them back safely,” Mr. Gantz wrote.
First flights within 72 hours
The first repatriation flights will begin within 72 hours, according to yesterday’s reports by Israeli television station N12. However, the plan includes a limited number of flights – only two flights per hour – and only during the day.
Special flight schedule
While El Al has not published a list of cities where Israelis will be able to choose return flights, local carrier Arkia said it is drawing up a special repatriation flight schedule from various nearby destinations, as well as from European cities and New York.
At this stage, Arkia is working on a flight schedule from destinations such as Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Paris, and New York. The flights will start as soon as the Israeli security services give the green light and will operate seven days a week, including Saturdays.
