Israel's new Aliyah minister welcomes Ukrainian olim at Ben-Gurion

Aliyah and Integration Minister MK Ofir Sofer welcomed Ukrainian immigrants to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday morning for the first time in his new position.

The minister was accompanied by his ministry's director-general, Dganit Sankar-Langa, for a professional tour of Ben-Gurion Airport.

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During the tour, the pair got an overview of the process that new immigrants to Israel go through, and the lengths which the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration goes through to ease the process.

Sofer welcomes Ukrainian immigrants

MK Sofer greeted 37 new olim from Ukraine who told him about their journey to Israel from their war-torn home country.

Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer offers a bag of goodies to a small child who has just immigrated to Israel from Ukraine on January 5, 2023. (credit: ELAD ZAGMAN)

Since the outset of 2023, 668 new immigrants from all over the world have arrived in Israel, according to data from the Aliyah and Integration Ministry.

"I was happy to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport this morning at the end of my first week as Minister of Aliyah and Integration to hear a comprehensive review of the ministry's work and to welcome immigrants from Ukraine who went through a harrowing journey on their way to Israel as a result of the war," said Sofer."I welcome them to Israel and wish them much success"

The minister also met with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Rabbi Reuven Asman, on Thursday according to a Friday morning Facebook post from MK Ofir Sofer's account.

"The rabbi informed me about the complex situation in Ukraine and the state of the Jewish community in the country," wrote Sofer. "We also discussed the difficulties of absorbing the new immigrants who arrived in Israel during the war and the ways in which they can be helped.

"As the Minister of Aliyah and Integration, I will do my best to help every Jew who is in Ukraine."