Ukraine International airline on Thursday added additional flights from Israel in an effort to fly thousands of Hasidic pilgrims into the country before Kiev shuts its gates to foreigners due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ukraine on Wednesday imposed a temporary ban on most foreigners from entering the country until September 28 due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. The ban is set to take effort on Friday.
The move effectively scuppers the annual mass pilgrimage by members of the Hasidic Breslov movement to the city of Uman, where they traditionally make a Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the gravesite of the movement founder Rebbe Nachman.
Kiev had initially agreed to admit a small number of pilgrims after a plea by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but later decided to ban all foreign visitors.
In wake of Kiev's decision, Ukraine International added flights to the capital and to Odessa before the embargo takes effect, prompting hundreds of Israeli pilgrims to rush to Ben-Gurion Airport in an effort to beat the ban.
"I have been flying to Ukraine every year for the past seven years," said Elisha, one of the arrivals at the airport.
"If they close the airlines, we will come by sea; and if they close the sea - we will find other ways to go to Uman. The government should have come to an understanding with the Ukrainians, and it is a pity that we are forced to do it this way."
Rahamim, who was also expected to depart for Kiev, added: "I am going to Uman until after Rosh Hashanah. Regarding the coronavirus, we will follow the guidelines, wear masks and keep our distance. We are not afraid. If they do not let us in - we will accept it with love and return to Israel."
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Coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: GPO)
Despite Netanyahu's request, Israel's coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu wrote personally to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asking him to ban the pilgrimage, which he branded "a life-threatening hazard."
"I have said it several times and I do not want to revisit this. I will not change my mind," said Gamzu of the pilgrimage.
Dozens of furious would-be pilgrims descended Thursday on the hotel in Safed at which Netanyahu and his wife are staying to protest the Ukraine ban. They accused the prime minister of intervening with Zelenskiy to trigger the ban.
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Hasidic protesters arrive Thursday outside the Safed hotel where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is staying
(Photo: Uman Status)
"We are law-abiding people who want to visit our blessed holy rabbi in Uman," said one of the protesters.
"We are here to raise our voices over the great humiliation that was handed to us by [Netanyahu]. Every week tens of thousands of people protest but we, tens of thousands who want to reach Rebbe Nachman, are denied a basic right," he said.
He warned that Netanyahu "will pay dearly for this," as would the ultra-Orthodox political parties.