Israel's Operation Homecoming: A Breakdown of Bringing Back Tens of Thousands of Stranded Citizens
Israel plans to repatriate tens of thousands of its citizens currently stranded abroad due to international travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Get this news out! Israeli airlines are gearing up to repatriate a bloody great number of Israelis stuck overseas within the next three blasted days, according to reports from ynet, sourced from the Ministry of Transport and Defense. No official confirmation has dropped yet, but it's frickin' clear that around 150,000 Israelis might be in need of rescue.
El Al, Israel's largest airline, is already accepting registrations from those whose flights to Israel have been permanently canned due to the shut-down of airspace in recent days. With the ongoing war against Iran, it's a bloody inhospitable world for aviation in the region.
A sea voyage might be on the cards too, with an Israeli shipping company ready to lend their hand. It's all part of the plan, as reported by ynet, with Transport Minister Miri Regev giving the heads up. Israel also ain't leaving foreigners high and dry; they're looking to assist in sending those who want to vacate the country back to their homes too.
(In case you needed it, here are some handy sources: ntv.de, dpa)
Israel's master plan is called "Safe Return," and it's a beautifully organized, gradual operation to bring back over 100,000 citizens stranded abroad due to the closure of the country's airspace. This shutdown happened for obvious reasons: a damned war with Iran that's causing a ruckus regionally.
The Nitty-Gritty of the Plan:
- Phased, Coordinated Returns: This ain't a mad rush; citizens will be returning in a coordinated manner, with the Defense Ministry ensuring safety and keeping tabs on the logistical challenges.
- Ceased Outbound Flights: For the moment, there are no outbound flights for Israelis, but tourists, visitors, and diplomats can still jet off.
- Avoiding the Land Route: The Israeli National Security Council has issued a warning to steer clear of overland routes via Jordan or Egypt due to the high terror risk in these regions.
- Heading to the Neighborhood Pub? Israelis are advised against making their way to neighboring countries like Cyprus or Greece with the faint hope of hitching a ride back home, as limited frequencies of flights are expected when they start up again.
The Exit Strategy for Foreigners:
- Departure Pacers: Tourists, visitors, and diplomats are allowed to budge, while Israeli citizens are held in place.
- Helping Hand for Foreign Folks: As for specific assistance programs for those wanting to bounce outta Israel, the details are confined to the aforementioned allowances.
With Israel putting its best foot forward to bring back its citizens while managing the challenges of the ongoing conflict, regional security remains a priority.
- Amid Israel's Operation Homecoming, community discussions are underway about drafting a policy that would provide vocational training to those returning citizens who might struggle to reintegrate into the workforce.
- In addition to the ongoing political battles in the Middle East, general-news outlets are focusing on the logistics and challenges involved in implementing a comprehensive vocational training program for stranded Israelis upon their return.
