Israelis' entry to Uman to be banned, visa-free travel to be canceled if Ukrainians' deportation from Israel doesn't end - Ukrainian embassy

MOSCOW. Aug 21 (Interfax) - Israeli citizens' entry to the city of Uman in the Cherkassy region will be banned and the visa-free regime will be canceled if Ukrainians' deportation from Israel does not end, Ukrainian media quoted a statement published on social media on the Ukrainian embassy in Israel's account on Sunday as saying.

"The government of Ukraine will not tolerate humiliation of its citizens while entering Israel. We will halt our bilateral visa waiver agreements as it's stipulated by Article 7 of the intergovernmental agreement. This option is on the table of our government. It is unthinkable that we will have to go out of our way to host tens of thousands of Israelis in Uman, with a high security risk, and with a huge logistical effort, when on the other hand - the Israeli government abuses our citizens who come to Israel within the framework of the treaty between the two countries," Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgeny Korniychuk said.

The ambassador called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to revise the policy regarding the entry of Ukrainians and intervene in this issue. "If Israel wants its citizens to be able to come to Ukraine as tourists, including Uman, I believe that the Prime Minister, Netanyahu, should intervene, personally, [...]," he said.

Previously, Zelensky said during his weekly press briefing that he had heard a report from the Border Guard Service, the Foreign Ministry and the intelligence service on the treatment of Ukrainian citizens abroad, the embassy said. Those responsible for these matters have been given appropriate tasks to ensure that the rights of Ukrainian citizens are guaranteed. Zelensky's words referred to Israel, Korniychuk later said.

As reported, two weeks earlier the Cherkassy regional military administration recommended that Hasidic Jews refrain from visiting Uman on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, but began taking measures to tighten security measures for guests and local residents.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, which is celebrated for two consecutive days on the new moon of the fall month of Tishrei on the Jewish calendar. From this day the countdown of the days of the new Jewish year starts.