Talks between Israel and Moldova regarding the anticipated influx of tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims heading to the Ukrainian city of Uman have broken down, Hebrew outlets reported Monday, putting the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage at risk.
According to Channel 12 news, the two countries had been in negotiations to establish a temporary terminal near Moldova’s Chisinau airport for travelers en route to Ukraine from Israel — as that country’s skies remain closed to civilian flights due to the ongoing war — but talks fizzled out when Moldova demanded to keep the temporary equipment after the pilgrimage ends.
Israel is now examining the option of chartering flights to Romania, from where pilgrims will drive to Uman, according to Channel 12 and Ynet.
The impasse with Moldova arose just two weeks before tens of thousands of primarily Hasidic Jewish pilgrims were set to head to Uman to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a Hasidic sage, for the Jewish new year — celebrated this year on September 23-24.
Since flying directly to Ukraine is currently impossible, the decision was made to charter flights to and from Chisinau. The pilgrims would then drive to the embattled country from the Moldovan capital.
To facilitate the large volume of travelers, Moldova demanded that Israel finance a temporary terminal near Chisinau’s airport, which would have cost around NIS 10 million ($3 million). The terminal itself would cost NIS 8 million ($2.4 million) to erect and be staffed by 90 airport security officers, 24 police officers and 50 translators.
Hasidic Jewish pilgrims visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a Hasidic sage, in Uman, central Ukraine, on September 15, 2023. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)
Israel would also have needed to send tents, signage, security cameras, firefighting equipment, air conditioning and toilets — all of which Moldova reportedly demanded to keep for itself after the pilgrimage concluded.
In light of the breakdown of talks with Moldova, flights are expected to be divided across airports in several Romanian cities, all located further away from Uman than Chisinau.
Romania has not demanded that Israel finance a terminal for the travelers, and is only requesting that interpreters be provided to assist the Israeli passengers.
According to Ynet, 81 flights are destined for Romania, while 17 will arrive in Rzeszow, a Polish city located near the border with Ukraine. Some regular (non-charter) flights are also set to take off to Moldova.
Israelis who fly into Romania will have to travel a long way by car to Uman, and will likely still need to pass through Moldova in order to reach the Ukrainian city.
The government previously considered imposing a levy of NIS 330 ($98) on travelers to Uman in order to offset the exorbitant cost of the operation, but the idea was shot down by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to oppose the plan, Haaretz reported last week.
The pilgrimage to Uman has become an increasingly urgent priority for Haredi leaders, who have tried to press Netanyahu and the IDF to allow draft-dodging yeshiva students to partake in the pilgrimage without facing threats of arrest at the airport.
These efforts appear to have not been successful so far, as reports on Thursday stated that the IDF was planning to station military police at ports of entry across Israel, including Ben Gurion Airport, to arrest draft evaders trying to head out for the holidays.
