How many Israelis will flee?
In the run-up to the 1967 Six Day War, there was so much fear for Israel's existence that thousands of body bags were prepared. In the few yeshivas that had foreign students at the time, many of the students were summoned home by their parents out of fear for their lives. I am told that after the war ended and the foreign students returned, they were ostracized by their Israeli counterparts, until the Roshei Yeshiva (yeshiva heads) stepped in and said that the boys could not be accused of a lack of faith - they were obeying their parents.With a war with Iran seemingly looming on the horizon, foreign embassies here are gearing up for the possibility that those Israelis who have dual citizenship could seek to leave - at least temporarily. There are thousands.
In the framework of the preparations for possible fallout in case of an Israeli strike on Iran, foreign diplomats stationed in Israel requested that the Foreign Ministry equip them and their family members with gas masks.It sounds like those who want to leave need to plan far in advance. I have not heard of anyone doing so, but then most of my friends live here permanently (even if they are dual citizens) and would be less inclined to leave than those here temporarily.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has provided foreign embassies in Israel with a list of public bomb shelters across the country, as well as an instructional pamphlet in English produced by the IDF Home Front Command.
Diplomatic officials deployed in Israel are particularly concerned about the possibility of a missile offensive on the Jewish State that would prompt thousands of Israeli citizens with foreign passports to seek evacuation from country.
A senior European diplomat said that in such case, the European Union does not have the means to undertake a massive evacuation operation within a short period of time.
Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, war preparations
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:29 PM
4 Comments:
In that case, maybe they could let an apartment to me: I intend to come to Israel at this time. If many people are leaving hopefully the price of apartments will go down. I would love to be in Jerusalem most of all. Or maybe stay on a kibbutz.
Obama will probably tell his embassy to take all steps to prevent American Jews from returning to the US.
There is a sad tradition of Jews with foreign passports bailing out when things get scary. During the intifada in the 80s, as well, we had large numbers of students leave, youth groups cancel their trips. The only ones who *increased* their visits and presence were Christian Zionists. How embarrassing.
Well, given the reports about Hezbollah teamed up with the gangbangers in Mexico, cells in the U.S., etc., I'm not so sure where that magical safe place will be. Maybe Aussie/NZ or Fiji!
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