Jewish pilgrims banned from entering Ukraine due to COVID-19 fears | world News

Armed guards prevented two thousand ultra-Orthodox Jews from entering Ukraine to perform the annual pilgrimage to the grave of a rabbi, leading to the establishment of a temporary camp on the country’s border with Belarus.

The men ignored warnings of the Ukrainian authorities not to travel after closing their borders at the end of last month in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19.

On Thursday, a Ukrainian Interior Ministry official reiterated that pilgrims will not be allowed to cross the border. “ Ukraine has closed its borders to foreigners, and the Hasidic will not be an exception [ultra-Orthodox] Mikhailo Apostol said. “It’s getting colder and we suggest they … go home.”

Israeli Higher Education Minister Ze’ev Elkin appealed to the men to leave the border. Despite many efforts to help the Israelis who tried to enter Ukraine via Belarus or Moldova, a final negative answer arrived this morning from the Ukrainian authorities. The Ukrainians declared that they would not allow entry through the border crossings or any limited delegation. I invite our citizens to return to Israel and abide by the isolation guidelines upon their return. happy New Year,” chirp.

At one point, dozens of Hasidic pilgrims in traditional Ukrainian Cossack costumes sang the national anthem of Ukraine and shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” , Apparently hoping to convince the authorities to change their minds.

Ukraine He said there were about 2,000 people at the border. Their intention was to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nahman, the grandson of the founder of the Hasidic movement, who died in 1810, in Uman.

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews visit the grave every September to mark the Jewish New Year, which begins at sunset on Friday and lasts for 48 hours.

The pilgrims, from countries such as France, the United States and Israel, have tried to bypass COVID-19 restrictions by traveling through Belarus. They are between border checkpoints after the Belarusian side allowed them to pass.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities accused Belarus of issuing misleading signals to pilgrims by indicating that they would eventually be allowed to cross the border. In return, Belarusian officials accused Ukraine of inhuman treatment of the pilgrims, and offered to provide buses to transport pilgrims to Uman and back to Belarus.

Tensions have escalated between the two countries since Kiev called for Belarus to end its crackdown on mass protests against the regime. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, accused Kiev of fueling political unrest In his country.

The Ukrainian authorities said that water and halal food were provided to the pilgrims, but the Belarusian Red Cross Society said that the pilgrims do not have “sufficient resources to secure their basic needs.”