Ukrainian Jews ready to flee to Israel over fears of anti-Semitism

By Matthew Young/Published 21st April 2014

JEWISH families were making plans to flee Ukraine yesterday over fears of an anti-Semitic backlash.

WORSHIPPERS: Jewish men in a synagogue in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk [REUTERS]

Israeli officials revealed that many had been seeking advice about how they could be repatriated to the Middle East.

The exodus was sparked by pro-Russian insurgents, now in control in many cities in eastern Ukraine, who have been intimidating Jews.

Militants handed out leaflets in Donetsk to Jews leaving a synagogue, ordering them to register with a breakaway government or face having their citizenship revoked. Pro-Russian leaders have dismissed the leaflet as a hoax, but Jews are convinced they are being targeted.

Alexander Ivanchenko, who runs Sohnut, an organisation helping people move to Israel, said many Jews had been contacting him.

He added: “It is hard to talk about numbers now, but there are more people who come for advice asking how to apply for repatriation.”

“Jews have no place in Ukraine, because nothing has changed”

Sam Pivnik

The Nazis killed over 900,000 Jews in the region during the Second World War, often with the help of locals.

UK-based Holocaust survivor Sam Pivnik, 86, said all Jewish people should leave the country immediately.

“Jews have no place in Ukraine, because nothing has changed,” said Sam, who now lives in Golders Green, north London.

“As long as Jews remain there, nothing will change. They had no business staying in that country after the atrocities of 1939 to 1945.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of staging a gun battle which killed six people in the eastern town of Slavyansk yesterday.

Three pro-Russian fighters died in the incident but Ukraine’s SBU security service branded it a “staged attack”.