The High Court on Sunday overturned an order by Interior Minister Ailet Shek to limit the number of refugees from war-torn Ukraine who are allowed to enter the country.
Thousands of Ukrainians have come to Israel in the wake of Russia’s February invasion of their country.
Under current rules, Ukrainians do not need a visa for travel in Israel for up to three months. In March, Sheik said Israel would allow some 20,000 Ukrainians who were on tourist visas or were in the country illegally before the Russian invasion. It also said that Israel would grant visas to a further 5,000 refugees who do not qualify for immigration to Israel under the law of automatic return, to anyone who has Jewish parents or grandparents with Israeli citizenship. allows to receive.
Shaked also introduced a requirement that Ukrainians fill out an online application form before leaving their homes and traveling to Israel.
Ruling in favor of a petition against Sheik’s quota, the court rejected the state’s sweeping claim that those who arrived on three-month visas would overstay their permitted visits, pointing to the figures show that since the war broke out, 4,409 Ukrainians who entered Israel were gone by May 8,
It also noted that the wording of the existing regulations, according to which Ukrainians do not require a visa, does not specify any specific circumstances under which the rules would not apply. It also said that changing the rules would require the participation of Knesset committees.
However, the court clarified that its decision does not curtail the authority of the Minister of the Interior to decide who can enter the country, in accordance with the provisions of the law, or on an individual basis at its discretion. Right to refuse entry of citizens. ,
Example: Interior Minister Ailet Hill at a press conference at Ben Gurion Airport on March 13, 2022. (Roy Alima / Flash 90)
The petition was filed by Tomar Warshaw Law Firm, which specializes in immigration law, and which is helping Ukrainians to enter the country.
“We are very satisfied that the High Court accepted our claims and ruled that the Interior Minister acted against the provisions of the law. We are delighted that the citizens of Ukraine, who are still at war, can find peace with their families and friends in Israel.”
“It is important to clarify that from now on there is no more shaken structure, there is no limit of 5,000 people only, there is no need to fill the form online,” he said.
Barely a week after Shaked announced its quota plan, Israeli officials said the number of visitors to Ukraine was close to the limit.
CAP split the government coalition at the time, which was opposed by the Meertz party. It also drew sharp criticism from Ukraine, which said it violated the visa agreement between the two countries.
