Israel News

On July 23, 2026, a new series of parties for everyone who supports Ukraine will start in Bat Yam.

Svetlana Berdetskaya, Posh Production and the restaurant “Dvizh” with the support of Grigory Tamar are organizing a space for meetings, communication, Ukrainian cuisine, music, and support. The first party of this series will take place at the “Dvizh” restaurant and will be dedicated to the theme “Crimea. Course for Return.”

The idea of the project sounds simple and very human: it doesn’t matter what language you speak here, what matters is that you support Ukraine.

The organizers invite guests not just to an evening with a program, but to a meeting where everyone can feel like part of a big family. This is a space for those who want to see friends, hug, laugh, talk about what hurts, and together support an important cause.

Doors open — July 23 at 20:00.

Address: Ben-Gurion St., 61, Bat Yam.

Information and tickets:  – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1969GoVfN6/

The first party of the series for those who support Ukraine

The new series of parties in Bat Yam is conceived as a place where the Ukrainian theme is expressed not only through news, politics, and the pain of war but also through live human interaction.

In Israel, people with different backgrounds live: some were born in Ukraine, some moved long ago, some are connected to Ukraine through family, friends, volunteering, or personal stance. For many, supporting Ukraine has become part of everyday life, especially after the full-scale Russian invasion.

Therefore, such meetings are no less important than official statements. They create an environment where people can be close to each other, speak openly, help, raise funds, and maintain a connection with Ukraine even while in Israel.

The organizers emphasize the main meaning of the evening: “We don’t care what language you speak, we care that you support Ukraine.”

This is where the series of parties begins, and the meeting on July 23 will be the first in a new format.

NANovosti — News of Israel continues to report on events that unite the Ukrainian and Israeli agenda because such initiatives show: support for Ukraine in Israel remains alive, personal, and very concrete.

“Crimea. Course for Return”: the theme of the first evening

The first party of the series will be dedicated to the theme “Crimea. Course for Return“.

Crimea is not just geography. For Ukraine, it is a matter of occupation, memory, resistance, justice, and the future. For Ukrainians in Israel, for Jews from Ukraine, and for everyone following the war, the conversation about Crimea remains an important part of understanding what is happening today and why Russian aggression cannot be reduced to a single front line.

The evening’s program features a special format with the participation of Grigory Tamar. Usually, he asks questions to his interlocutors, but this time the organizers are preparing a reverse situation: guests will be able to ask questions.

This makes the meeting more open and lively. It’s not about a dry lecture or a formal speech, but an honest conversation where you can ask about what really concerns you: about Ukraine, Crimea, the war, Israel, security, propaganda, memory, and the future.

Ukrainian cuisine, music, and support auction

One of the important parts of the evening will be Ukrainian cuisine from the “Dvizh” restaurant.

Guests will be treated to dishes that for many are associated with home, the family table, and Ukrainian tradition: homemade herring, Ukrainian salo with pickles, borscht with pampushki, dumplings with potatoes, dumplings with cherries, potato pancakes with mushroom sauce, potato pancakes with sour cream, chicken Kiev, stew in a pot, crepes with cottage cheese, crepes with sour cream sauce, homemade compote, and the signature horseradish vodka Dvizh.

The menu list well conveys the mood of the evening: it’s not just a restaurant presentation, but an attempt to create the atmosphere of a Ukrainian home, warmth, and recognizable taste.

DJ Dan Karpenko is responsible for the musical part.

The host of the evening will be Kirill Galushka.

The organizers also promise surprises and a program from friends — musicians, stand-up comedians, and other artists. Therefore, the first party of the series will not only be a thematic meeting but also a full-fledged live evening with music, communication, humor, conversations, and an atmosphere “among friends.”

Auction in support of Ukraine and the IDF

A separate part of the program is an auction in support of Ukraine and the Israel Defense Forces.

This is an important highlight of the evening. For many Israelis with Ukrainian roots, it is impossible today to separate the two themes: support for Ukraine, which continues to fight against Russian aggression, and support for Israel, which lives under conditions of war and security threats.

The auction turns the meeting from an ordinary party into an event with a specific purpose. People come not only to spend the evening but also to help those who protect life — in Ukraine and in Israel.

Such initiatives show how true solidarity works: not with slogans, but with actions, personal involvement, donations, meetings, and a willingness to be there.

NANovosti — News of Israel considers it important to support such events with information because they help maintain the connection between people, communities, and countries at a time when this connection is of particular importance.

What guests need to know

Format: the first party of a new series of meetings for everyone who supports Ukraine.

Theme of the first evening: “Crimea. Course for Return.”

Date: July 23.

Time: doors open at 20:00.

Place: “Dvizh” restaurant.

Address: Ben-Gurion St., 61, Bat Yam.

Organizers and participants: Svetlana Berdetskaya, Posh Production, “Dvizh” restaurant, with the support of Grigory Tamar.

In the program: Ukrainian cuisine, music by DJ Dan Karpenko, host Kirill Galushka, meeting with Grigory Tamar, surprises, artists, auction in support of Ukraine and the IDF.

Information and tickets:  – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1969GoVfN6/

The first party of the series in Bat Yam is an opportunity to meet, get acquainted, support Ukraine and Israel, hear an important conversation about Crimea, and spend the evening among people for whom solidarity is not a formality, but a personal stance.

A new event platform sTDe | NAnews is emerging in Israel — an event listing where you can search for concerts, theater, stand-up, festivals, exhibitions, and family programs. The project helps guide you from the question “where to go?” to choosing a city, venue, and ticket.

sTDe | NAnews — Israel’s event listing: a new guide to events, cities, and tickets

In Israel, concerts, performances, stand-up evenings, festivals, exhibitions, lectures, family programs, city celebrations, and chamber meetings take place almost every day. But for someone who wants to choose an event, a single announcement is often not enough. They need to understand where the event is taking place, when it starts, how much tickets cost, whether the event is suitable for children, if there is a convenient venue, which city is best to choose a date, and whether it is worth planning a trip in advance.

This is exactly why sTDe | NAnews is being developed — a new event listing in Israel, where events will be organized into a clear system: by genres, cities, dates, venues, tickets, and thematic selections. The project is available at https://stde.co.il/ and is being created as a convenient navigator for the cultural, urban, and event life of the country.

Not just a list of events, but a clear listing of Israel

The main task of sTDe | NAnews — is to help a person quickly answer a simple but important question: where to go today, tomorrow, on the weekend, or in the coming month. In reality, this question almost always breaks down into a chain of clarifications: concert or theater, Tel Aviv or Haifa, family program or evening event, open seating or reserved tickets, large hall or chamber venue, all-day festival or short performance.

A regular list of events often does not address these questions. Therefore, sTDe | NAnews is built not as a dry catalog, but as an event guide. In it, not only the date and name are important, but also the context: who the event is suitable for, what makes it special, where it takes place, how to check details in advance, and why this particular event might be interesting.

For NAnews — News of Israel launching such a project is logical: alongside the news and analytical agenda, a practical urban layer appears — a listing that shows the lively side of Israel through concerts, theater, festivals, exhibitions, lectures, and events for the whole family.

What categories will be important on sTDe | NAnews

The event platform should be convenient not only for finding one specific concert. It should cater to different behavior scenarios: someone is looking for tickets to a famous artist, someone is choosing a play, someone is planning a family weekend, someone wants to see what’s happening in the city near their home.

This approach helps cover not just one search query, but the entire topic. The user can start with “events in Israel,” then move to “concerts in Tel Aviv,” then specify “where to go with children in Haifa” or “festivals in Israel on the weekend.” A good listing should accompany them at every step.

Geography: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, and the entire country

For Israel, geography is especially important. Events take place not only in the center of the country. The listing should show Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Ashdod, Netanya, Bat Yam, Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva, Holon, Be’er Sheva, cities of the north, center, and south of Israel.

A person often chooses not only an event but also a route. They need to understand if it’s convenient to get there, if it’s worth going to another city, if there’s parking nearby, how late the program ends, and if the venue is suitable for family visits. Therefore, city selections on Event Listing sTDe | NAnews can become a separate strong direction: “where to go in Tel Aviv,” “events in Haifa,” “Jerusalem listing,” “events in Ashdod,” “weekends in central Israel,” “festivals in the north.”

What should be in a good announcement

A good event announcement should save the reader’s time. It should immediately answer the main questions: what is happening, where, when, who is performing, how long the event lasts, who it is suitable for, how much tickets cost, if there are restrictions, how to check seat availability, and what to know before attending.

Main event data

In a card or article about the event, it is important to specify:

• date and time;
• city and venue;
• address or area;
• genre and format;
• cost or price range;
• link to tickets;
• age restrictions;
• duration;
• organizer or venue;
• important attendance conditions.

But that’s not enough. For a lively listing, it’s necessary to explain what makes the event different from others. For example, a concert may be part of a tour, a play — a rare production, a festival — a family city event, an exhibition — a temporary exposition, and a stand-up — an evening with a limited number of seats.

Tickets: how to move from interest to action

The user has two states. The first — they are just looking at what’s happening. The second — they are ready to buy a ticket. The listing should work for both scenarios.

If a person is still choosing, they need selections, city comparisons, format descriptions, and clear navigation. If they have already decided to go, they need a quick transition to tickets, exact date, venue, price, and purchase conditions. Therefore, on sTDe | NAnews, the ticket office block and external pages where you can check seat availability, cost, and current conditions are important.

This is where the project can be useful not only as a listing but also as a landing page for action: read, understood, chose, moved to the ticket.

Why this is important for NAnews readers

The audience of NAnews — News of Israel is used to receiving not only the fact but also an explanation: what happened, why it is important, how it is connected to Israel, cities, society, culture, and everyday life. sTDe | NAnews continues this logic, but in an event format.

News shows what the country lives by at the level of politics, security, society, and international agenda. The listing shows another side of the same country: concerts, performances, city festivals, exhibitions, family events, lectures, and meetings. Together, this gives a more complete picture of Israel — not only through the events of the day but also through cultural and city life.

Frequently asked questions about sTDe | NAnews

Can events be searched by cities? Yes, city navigation should become one of the foundations of the project.

Will there be weekend selections? This format is especially important because many people look for events just before Friday and Saturday.

Are separate pages needed for concerts, theater, and festivals? Yes, because each category has its own user path and questions.

Can the site be used as a ticket office? The project can combine announcements, selections, and transitions to tickets, helping the user move from choice to purchase.

How is sTDe | NAnews different from a regular catalog? By presenting the event with context: city, format, audience, attendance details, and practical benefits.

Conclusion

sTDe | NAnews — is an event listing of Israel that can become not just a list of events, but a full-fledged guide to the cultural and city life of the country. The project combines concerts, theater, stand-up, festivals, exhibitions, lectures, family programs, cities, venues, tickets, and thematic selections.

For the reader, this means a convenient path from the first question “where to go?” to a specific decision: choose a date, city, event, venue, and ticket. For the media ecosystem of NAnews, this is a new practical format that complements news, analytics, and public agenda with a live map of events in Israel.

The numbers behind the war against the future. Not just schools, but a system of pressure. New data shows the scale of the problem that Ukraine has been warning about for years. In the 2025–2026 academic year, there are 1980 “Russian” schools operating in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, working according to Russian standards, and more than 582 thousand Ukrainian children are studying in them. This is not about isolated cases or a local system failure, but about a massive and deliberate restructuring of the educational space under Russia’s control.

But the most frightening thing in this story is not the statistics themselves, but what lies behind them. Through schools, the occupying power builds a mechanism of pressure in which children are gradually changed in terms of language environment, educational content, historical memory, and the very sense of belonging to Ukraine. In March 2026, in the analytical report of the Center “Almenda”, this is directly described as a policy of destroying the identity of children in the occupied territories.

For the Israeli reader, there are too many familiar signals here to consider this topic distant. When the blow is struck at children, at memory, at language, and at the upbringing of the next generation, it is no longer just a humanitarian crisis. It is an attempt to steal the future of a nation.

How exactly Ukrainian children are broken

Militarization instead of childhood

One of the key parts of this system is militarization. Children and teenagers in the occupied territories are drawn into structures like the “First Movement” and “Yunarmiya”, where instead of normal development, creativity, and free choice, they are imposed with a cult of loyalty, submission, and war. Ukrainian and international sources describing the report’s findings indicate that Russian authorities are accelerating the militarization of education, introducing ideological subjects, and embedding elements of state propaganda into school life.

This looks especially cynical because everything is presented under the guise of “upbringing”, “patriotism”, and “care for youth”. In reality, the child is gradually accustomed to the idea that their future should be connected not with Ukraine, but with the state that came to their land with war. And here it becomes clear: this is not about education as such, but about preparing a loyal generation for a foreign system.

Fear as an everyday norm

An equally important element is fear. In the occupied territories, school becomes not a place of choice, but a place of coercion. Parents find themselves under pressure, and teenagers are deprived of the opportunity to openly speak about their pro-Ukrainian position. Even maintaining an internal connection with their country becomes a risk there. This is also mentioned in the materials accompanying the “Almenda” report and in the stories of children who are later managed to be taken out of occupation.

Thus, an environment is built where silence becomes a way to survive. A child learns not to think freely, but to hide their feelings, beliefs, and memory in time. And this is already a blow not only to children’s rights but also to the very possibility of society to reclaim these children without severe consequences for their psyche.

That is why the topic of Ukrainian children in the occupied territories should not fall out of the international agenda. NAnovosti — Israel News | Nikk.Agency in such a conversation sounds not like a formality, but as part of a common effort not to let the world turn away from what is happening right now.

Why Save Ukraine is so important here

Who they are and what they do

Save Ukraine is a Ukrainian humanitarian organization founded in 2014. On its official website, it explains its mission as saving children, supporting families, and forming a strong generation capable of restoring the country’s future. After the start of the full-scale war, the organization became one of the most prominent structures engaged in evacuating civilians, returning Ukrainian children from occupation and from Russia, as well as their further rehabilitation.

In the context of this topic, Save Ukraine is important not as an abstract charity fund, but as an organization that deals with the most severe consequences of occupation in practice. It conducts rescue missions, helps return children home, accompanies families, provides temporary safety, and then helps children go through the path of recovery after experiencing pressure, isolation, ideological processing, and fear. On the Save Ukraine website, it is separately emphasized that it is about children who faced separation from families, militarization, persecution, and other forms of violence.

Save Ukraine:
https://www.saveukraineua.org/

That is why mentioning Save Ukraine in this topic carries special weight. This is not a story “about sympathy”, not a beautiful logo, and not a set of the right words. This is a structure that really pulls children out of the trap where they were tried to be deprived of home, memory, and a normal childhood.

Why this is a question of Ukraine’s future

On the organization’s website, messages about new rescue operations are regularly published.

At the end of March and the beginning of April 2026, Save Ukraine reported on new groups of children and teenagers who were managed to be taken out of occupation and deportation. This shows that the problem has not remained in the past and has not been reduced to isolated cases — it continues, and the fight for each child is literally happening now.

Therefore, the issue of returning Ukrainian children cannot be perceived only as a humanitarian mission. It is a question of whether Ukraine will be able to maintain a connection with the next generation, which the enemy is trying to rewrite for itself. Every child who manages to break out of this system is not just a saved fate. It is also a blow to the very logic of occupation, which is built on the calculation that over time children will forget who they are, where they are from, and to which country they belong.

And that is why this needs to be spoken about loudly. Not only in Kyiv. Not only in the human rights community. Not only in reports.

This should be known in Israel, in Jewish communities, in international institutions, in the media, and in political circles. Because here the war is not only for territories. Here the war is for memory, for identity, and for the future of an entire generation of Ukrainian children.

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman published a statement and video with Dmitry Korchinsky on June 29, 2026, following the events surrounding the action on June 21 in Kyiv and the reaction of the Embassy of Israel in Ukraine.

On June 30, 2026, the Ukrainian publication TSN published an article by Oleksandr Marushchak about a discovery that sounds almost absurd for wartime Kyiv.

In the Dnipro district of the capital, near the residential complex “Park Lakes,” researchers of underground Kyiv discovered an abandoned radiation shelter designed for approximately 700 people.

This is not a new object and not a temporary basement.

According to TSN, it is a substantial Soviet bomb shelter of the former “Agromash” plant, which once dealt with the repair of agricultural machinery. The plant’s premises were long demolished, the area was given over to residential development, high-rises appeared around, and the shelter itself was considered lost.

But it turned out that it had not disappeared.

It remained underground all these years — next to houses, next to people, next to an area where, during the Russian war, residents lack proper shelter.

Kyiv, Dnipro district: what exactly was found near the “Park Lakes” residential complex

The story of the discovery was told to TSN by the researcher of underground Kyiv, Kyrylo Stepanyets.

According to him, the shelter was noticed after the ground subsided. This is an important detail: the object was found not because it was timely checked by municipal services, not because a city inventory revealed a forgotten bunker, but practically by accident — when the earth reminded that there was something beneath it.

Stepanyets told TSN that back in 2010 he saw the entrance to this bomb shelter. At that time, the memory of the industrial area still remained in this place. Later, the premises of the “Agromash” plant were demolished, the area began to be developed for housing, and the shelter was considered lost.

“I thought it was buried, but it turned out it wasn’t. It was completely preserved underground,” TSN conveys his words.

Inside, according to the publication, elements of a full-fledged protective structure have been preserved: airtight doors, gas masks, exhausts, air purification filters. So it’s not about a random basement, but a real radiation shelter built in case of a major war.

And here begins the main nerve of this story.

In the fifth year of the full-scale war against Ukraine, when Kyiv regularly experiences air raids, missile and drone attacks, a shelter for 700 people lay under residential buildings.

Not destroyed.

Not dismantled.

Not disappeared.

Just forgotten, buried under debris, and officially needed by no one.

The bunker exists, there are many people, but no shelter: the paradox of the fifth year of war

According to Kyrylo Stepanyets, as cited by TSN, there is no decent shelter on the territory of the residential complex, although a powerful Soviet bunker is preserved underground nearby. The researcher directly called this “the paradox of the fifth year of the full-scale war.”

And this is indeed not just a beautiful phrase.

Ukraine lives in a state of daily threat. Kyiv is one of the main targets of Russian attacks. For the residents of the capital, an air raid alarm has long ceased to be something exceptional. People descend into the subway, seek basements, take shelter in parking lots, corridors, underground passages.

And here, next to the high-rises, there could be a place designed for hundreds of people.

Stepanyets claims that the premises could be cosmetically repaired, and then it could now save the residents of the area. He also told TSN that the Dnipro District State Administration previously refused to repair the bomb shelter, citing a lack of funds and interest in the object.

If this information is officially confirmed, the story will cease to be just an unusual find.

This is already a matter of responsibility.

Who knew about this object?

Who decided it was no longer needed?

Who allowed the area to be developed without resolving the fate of the shelter?

Why in a city that has lived under the constant threat of Russian strikes since 2022 do such objects only surface after the ground subsides?

Former factories of Kyiv: how many such shelters might still be under new buildings

A separately important part of the TSN material is Stepanyets’ words that such shelters might not be an isolated case.

In Soviet times, bomb shelters for nuclear war were built at many enterprises in Kyiv. Then a different era began: factories closed, industrial zones were sold, buildings were demolished, and the land was transferred to residential development.

And with these processes, part of the protective infrastructure simply fell out of sight.

On the site of former factories, residential complexes, shops, offices, parking lots appeared. But underground, old shelters could remain — somewhere destroyed, somewhere flooded, somewhere buried, and somewhere, like near “Park Lakes,” almost completely preserved.

TSN also provides another example: in the “Galaxy” residential complex, after the dismantling of the dairy plant premises and the construction of high-rises, the bomb shelter was preserved, repaired, and is now used as a reliable shelter.

This comparison is especially important.

In one place, the old shelter was preserved and returned to the people.

In another, an object for 700 people ended up under debris.

So the problem is not only in the legacy of Soviet infrastructure. The problem lies in the decisions made after that: what to preserve, what to write off, what to check, and what to simply forget.

Reaction of the KMDA: now looking for the balance holder

After TSN’s appeal, the situation was responded to by the Department of Municipal Security of the KMDA in Kyiv.

They reported that specialists are already investigating the situation with the found bomb shelter of the former plant. In particular, they are determining who had the underground premises on balance and who should have been responsible for its functioning. Also, after this, they will decide what to do with the object next.

But this very reaction sounds like a separate diagnosis.

In the capital of a warring country, a shelter for 700 people was found, and the authorities are now figuring out who it belonged to and who should have been responsible for it.

For peacetime, this would be a bureaucratic story.

For Kyiv in 2026, it is a matter of security.

Because a shelter during wartime exists not when it was once built, and not when it is listed in old documents. It exists only when a person can enter it during an alarm.

Why this story is important for Israel

For the Israeli audience, this news from Kyiv should be understandable without long explanations.

In Israel, the topic of shelters is part of life. Mamad in an apartment, public shelters, instructions from the Home Front Command, readiness of municipalities, availability of protected spaces — all these are not abstract norms, but a practical survival system.

That is why the story of the Kyiv bunker near the “Park Lakes” residential complex is important for readers of NAnews — Israel News.

It shows that civil protection is not only concrete, doors, and filters.

It is accounting.

It is responsibility.

It is verification.

It is understanding who is responsible for what.

It is a political and municipal decision not to wait for a tragedy to then look for the guilty.

Ukraine today is going through an experience that Israelis largely understand: peaceful cities become targets, civilian areas come under attack, and security begins not only with the army and air defense but also with the nearest shelter.

If there is a bunker for 700 people under the house, but no one knows about it, it is not protection.

It is an illusion of protection.

What should happen now

The story of the found shelter in the Dnipro district of Kyiv should not end with one TSN article and a few social media posts.

The first thing to do is to officially check the technical condition of the object.

Second, establish the balance holder and legal status of the premises.

Third, understand if the shelter can be quickly brought to a state suitable for people.

Fourth, conduct a separate inspection of former industrial areas of Kyiv, where similar structures might have been preserved after the demolition of factories.

Fifth, publicly explain to the residents of the area whether they can rely on this shelter, when and under what conditions.

Because in such a story, the main question is not how impressive the found bunker looks.

The main question is how many people it could have protected if it had been remembered earlier.

In the fifth year of the full-scale war, a forgotten shelter for 700 people in Kyiv is no longer just an “incredible find.”

It is a test of how the city treats the lives of its residents.

And it is a lesson not only for Ukraine.

It is a lesson for any country living under the threat of strikes on peaceful cities.

International Jewish Book Day is celebrated annually on December 29 (International Jewish Book Day). This holiday symbolizes the rich literature and cultural heritage of the Jewish people, reflecting their influence on world culture.

However, behind the celebration lie deep historical ties that unite Israel, Ukraine and the Jewish community.

One of the brightest pages of this story is ancient example of Jewish literature — “Kiev letter” — unique document of the 10th century, written in Hebrewwhich emphasizes the Jewish presence at that time in the lands of Kievan Rus.

The document is written in Hebrew and contains the first mention of Kyiv in the form Qiyyōb (Heb. קייב).

History of International Jewish Book Day

The origins of this holiday remain unclear. It is believed that it was first celebrated in 1981, when the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem (today the National Library of Israel) initiated an event dedicated to the promotion of Jewish literature.

The purpose of the holiday is to recall that the book has always been a central element of Jewish culture, an important tool for the transmission of knowledge, spirituality and values.

Holiday traditions

Today, International Jewish Book Day is accompanied by the following events:

1. Book fairs: We offer works by both classical Jewish authors and contemporary writers whose work is devoted to Jewish themes.
2. Literary evenings: Writers share their work, discuss trending topics, and interact with readers.
3. Lectures and seminars: Participants will learn about the history of Jewish literature, its influence on world culture, and its importance for preserving Jewish identity.
4. Children’s programs: Special attention is given to children to instill a love of reading from a very young age.

The holiday has become a symbol of the unity of Jewish communities and a reminder of the contribution of literature to the development of national identity.

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“Kiev Letter”: the first written mention of Kyiv

The Kyiv leaf is a unique document of the 10th century, written in Hebrew.

The letter was discovered among the collection of Hebrew manuscripts of the Cairo Geniza in the Ben Ezra Synagogue by University of Chicago professor Norman Golb in 1962. Later, Harvard University professor Emelyan Pritsak joined the study of the monument.

The authors reported the results of their research at several scientific conferences and in 1982 the document was published in their joint monograph, with Golb providing the translation and Pritsak the interpretation. In the USSR, the existence of the letter was known, but not advertised. The letter was first published translated from English into Russian in 1997.

Manuscript TS (glass) 12.122. kept in the Cambridge University Library. It is a piece of parchment 22.5 cm long and 14.4 cm wide. The sheet is damaged in two places and has seven vertical folds. The text is written on the front side, the back side is blank. Ink is brown (faded black). The text occupies 30 lines.

According to the discoverers, this letter is the oldest authentic document written on the territory of Kievan Rus and can date back to the 10th century.

It was created by the Jewish community of Kyiv, which was under the influence of the Khazar Khaganate. The letter is the most important evidence about the life of the Jewish community in Ancient Rus’.

Contents of the “Kyiv Letter”

The document is a letter in which the community appeals to Jews in other cities with a request to help raise money for the ransom of Jacob ben Hanukkah, a member of the community who found himself in debt slavery. The letter describes the tragic story of Yakov, who vouched for his brother, who took money from the “infidels.” After the death of his brother, his debt was transferred to the guarantor, which led to Yakov’s imprisonment.

Interesting facts:

• The letter contains 30 lines of text written in brown ink.
• The document mentions Kyiv under the name Qiyyōb (קייב).
• The last word is written in Turkic runes, which is probably the only surviving written evidence of the Khazar language.

The meaning of the “Kyiv letter”

The “Kiev Letter” is not only a valuable historical evidence, but also a unique source for the study of Jewish and Khazar cultures. The document illustrates the legal and social norms of the time, showing how the system of surety and debt slavery worked.

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Jewish literature in Ukraine: general context

Ukraine occupies an important place in the history of Jewish literature. Many prominent Jewish writers, such as Sholem Aleichem, Yitzchok Ben-Zvi and others, drew inspiration from the life of Jewish communities located in Kyiv, Odessa and other cities.

An important stage was the era of the Khazar Kaganate, when Judaism became widespread and Kyiv became an important center of Jewish life. The Kiev Letter serves as evidence of the deep historical roots of Jews in the territory of modern Ukraine.

Why is this important today?

For Israel and Ukraine, literature and history create a powerful cultural bridge. Modern literary projects, translations and publications help to recall common pages of history, such as the “Kiev Letter”, and deepen mutual understanding between peoples.

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Jewish Book: Implications for the Community

The Jewish book has always been more than just text. It acted as a repository of spirituality, culture and knowledge. Today, International Jewish Book Day helps highlight the importance of written heritage, both ancient and modern.

On the website NAnews – Israel News we often talk about events related to Jewish culture and its historical roots. The Kiev Letter, being the oldest written evidence about Kyiv, shows how literature helps preserve the identity and culture of the people.

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Conclusion

International Jewish Book Day is not only a holiday, but also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of literature and its influence on the history of peoples. The Kiev Leaf as part of the Jewish and Ukrainian heritage is a vivid example of how a common history can unite.

Ukraine and Israel are connected by deep historical ties. From the Kyiv Letter to modern Jewish literature, these connections remain strong.

Read more about the unique history of the Jews of Ukraine on the website NAnews – Israel News! Learn how ancient documents and modern books become part of a common culture.

In Ukraine, draft law No. 15358 was registered to penalize driving cars and motorcycles that exceed the permissible noise level. For Israel, this topic also sounds very familiar: even during the war, cars and motorcycles with roaring exhausts continue to race on the country’s roads, and citizens increasingly perceive this not as ‘tuning’ but as additional stress and demonstrative disrespect for people.

The document provides for the introduction of strict sanctions against drivers of cars and motorcycles who intentionally modify exhaust systems.

Draft Law No. 15358: What exactly was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada

On June 26, 2026, draft law No. 15358 was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, proposing to establish liability for operating vehicles that exceed the permissible noise level. Officially, the document is called a draft law on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and other legislative acts, and its essence is to give the state a tool against cars and motorcycles that create excessive noise on the roads.

This is no longer just a matter of comfort. During the war, such sounds often resemble drones. Citizens and children get scared, veterans may experience PTSD triggers, and air defense and police are distracted from real threats. And at night, it is almost impossible for those living near major streets to sleep with the window open.

Full name (Ukr.) – “Draft Law on Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and Other Legislative Acts on Establishing Liability for Operating Vehicles Exceeding the Permissible Noise Level”.

The card of the draft law indicates that the initiators were a group of People’s Deputies of Ukraine, including Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Maksym Khlapuk, Oleh Bondarenko, Oleksandr Bakumov, Ivan Yunakov, Olha Koval, Anastasia Radina, Olena Vintoniak, Hryhoriy Mamka, Maksym Buzhanskyi, and Maryana Bezuhla. As of June 29, 2026, the document had already been sent for committee review, with the main committee being the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement.

Ukrainian media linked this initiative to cars and motorcycles whose loud straight-through exhaust during the war may resemble the sound of Shahed-type drones. According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, as cited by the publication, such sounds scare civilians, children, can become triggers for veterans, and also distract air defense and police from real threats.

What fines are proposed and how much is it in shekels

The draft law provides for several levels of liability.

In peacetime, the first violation is proposed to be fined 8,500 hryvnias, and a repeat violation — 17,000 hryvnias. Under martial law, the liability becomes stricter: 17,000 hryvnias for the first violation and 34,000 hryvnias for a repeat violation. In addition, for a repeat violation during the war, it is proposed to impose mandatory deprivation of driving rights for a period of 3 to 6 months.

If these amounts are converted into Israeli shekels approximately, it turns out as follows: 8,500 hryvnias — about 560 shekels, 17,000 hryvnias — about 1,120 shekels, 34,000 hryvnias — about 2,240 shekels. The calculation is made approximately at the rate of about 1 hryvnia = 0.066 shekels.

Separately, the draft law proposes to instruct the relevant authorities to establish clear noise standards, including separate rules for nighttime — from 22:00 to 08:00. This is an important detail because the problem of loud exhaust is especially painful at night when the sound spreads more strongly through residential areas, and people, after alarms, shelling, and heavy news, try to get at least some rest.

Why Israel should understand this topic without lengthy explanations

For Israel, the Ukrainian draft law is not an abstract news from another country.

Here, too, they know well what war, nighttime alarms, sirens, drone reports, missile threats, air defense work, waiting for news from relatives in the army, and nervous tension that accumulates over months are. Therefore, the sharp roar of a motorcycle or car with a modified exhaust is perceived not as ordinary road noise, but as a sound that can make a person flinch.

In Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bat Yam, Ashdod, Netanya, Be’er Sheva, Rishon LeZion, and other cities in Israel, there are also drivers who continue to race on the roads with loud exhausts, especially in the evening and at night. Sometimes these are sports cars, sometimes motorcycles, sometimes ordinary cars after ‘improvements’, but for residents, the result is the same: a sharp roar under the windows, fear in children, anger in adults, and the feeling that someone is turning a residential area into a personal racetrack.

During the war, this is much more irritating than in ordinary life.

If a person has just experienced a siren, if a family is trying to put a child to bed after a stressful day, if a reservist has returned home on a short leave, if elderly people and immigrants live in constant tension, then a loud exhaust under the windows is perceived not as ‘love for cars’, but as rudeness. Citizens in Israel are also furious about this because at such a moment the driver demonstrates not style, but complete indifference to the state of those around them.

The Ukrainian logic here is very understandable: if the sound of a vehicle during the war can resemble the sound of a threat, it cannot be considered only as a matter of comfort. It is already a matter of public peace, psychological safety, and respect for people who live in a state of constant mobilization.

A loud exhaust is not freedom if it scares an entire neighborhood

In peacetime, the dispute over a loud exhaust is often reduced to a domestic conflict: someone likes the sound of the engine, someone is bothered by the noise. But during the war, this dispute changes its meaning. A city that lives with sirens and news of rockets is not obliged to endure artificially amplified roars under the windows just because someone wants to attract attention.

Israel should take a close look at the Ukrainian example.

It is not necessary to copy the Ukrainian model one-to-one, but the principle itself seems fair: in wartime, the responsibility for intentionally loud exhaust should be higher, especially at night, in residential areas, near hospitals, schools, hotels with evacuated families, and neighborhoods where elderly people, military families, and people after attacks live.

Practically, this could mean separate nighttime fines, mandatory technical inspection after a violation, a requirement to return the exhaust system to normal condition, enhanced work by police and municipal inspectors, and more understandable rules for drivers. If a car or motorcycle sounds so that people are scared and take it as a threat, it is no longer ‘car culture’, but a violation of public order.

For Israel, this is especially important because the country is not living in an ordinary noisy season, but in a prolonged military reality. There are too many people here who already sleep poorly, flinch at sudden sounds, wait for messages from loved ones, and keep their phones nearby even at night. Adding artificial engine roars to this means not understanding the society you live in.

NAnews —Israel News believes that the Ukrainian draft law No. 15358 is important not only as an internal Ukrainian initiative. It shows a broader principle: war changes attitudes even towards things that previously seemed domestic. Where the sound can resemble a drone, siren, or threat, the state has the right to demand silence, and citizens — to demand respect.

In Ukraine, this issue has already been brought to the level of a draft law. In Israel, it should also be taken seriously because a loud exhaust during the war is not just road noise. It is a test of responsibility, empathy, and the ability to understand that the freedom of one driver ends where the fear of an entire neighborhood begins.

And in Israel?

In Israel, a loud exhaust is formally no longer outside the law: traffic rules require a proper exhaust system, the police can remove a noisy car or motorcycle from the road, and the law on preventing disturbances prohibits strong and unreasonable noise.

In Israel, penalties for loud exhaust are already provided, but they appear significantly softer than the Ukrainian model.

For strong noise from a vehicle, fines ranged from 250 to 500 shekels, and under the promoted increase — up to 500 shekels for the first violation and up to 1,000 shekels for a repeat violation. Separately, for the absence of a muffler or noise prevention device, the fine was supposed to increase to 1,000 shekels, and for a corporate vehicle — up to 2,000 shekels.

But unlike the Ukrainian draft law, the Israeli system does not yet make a separate emphasis on wartime, citizens’ fear, sirens, drones, and the psychological effect of a loud exhaust.

In addition to the fine, the police in Israel can apply a more painful measure — a ban on the operation of the vehicle if the exhaust system is faulty, modified, or creates unreasonable noise. That is, the car or motorcycle can be effectively removed from the road until the violation is corrected.

but …

Promoting a news site in Israel has long gone beyond just a homepage, a Facebook post, or a random link in Telegram. A media outlet that wants to be noticeable should not just have a news feed, but a whole network of trust: public profiles, bookmark pages, external blogs, RSS feeds, brand cards, material collections, and clear entry points for different audiences.

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Trust profile and external editorial platform

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Thematic projects and additional channels

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a news site in Israel need external pages if there is already a main domain?

The main domain remains the main center of trust, but external pages help create an informational network around it. A reader can encounter the project through a profile, collection, blog, RSS feed, or bookmarks. The more such points are naturally and neatly connected, the easier it is to understand that the project is alive, open, and regularly updated.

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What is important not to spoil?

The main mistake is turning such pages into a dump of links. Each platform should have a normal description, a clear name, live text, and a connection with the main topic. For NAnews, this is Israel, Ukraine, Jewish communities, regional security, culture, history, and explanation of events, not mechanical repetition of the same phrases.

Conclusion

A useful collection of links for promoting a news site in Israel is not just a list of addresses. It is a map of the project’s presence on the internet. When Protopage, Diigo, Gravatar, Tistory, FeedBurner, and thematic pages work together, they help the reader quickly understand who is behind the project, where to read the main materials, what directions are being developed, and why this source deserves attention.

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American Jewish drone operator Sam Nahins, who volunteered in Ukraine, told the NY Post why he felt safer on the front lines than among antisemitic slogans in New York. The article features his perspective on Ukrainian-American brotherhood and the unique role of Help is on WayUA.

New York Post: An American Jew Found Respect in Ukraine and Faced Hatred in the US

New York Post is one of the largest American newspapers, founded back in 1801. Today, its circulation exceeds 625,000 copies on weekdays and 386,000 on Sundays. Since 1993, the publication has belonged to News Corporation of the famous media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
It was for this newspaper that on July 26, 2025, 32-year-old Jew and US Air Force veteran Sam Nahins shared his experience volunteering in Ukraine and his impressions upon returning to the campus of Columbia University in New York.

From the Front in Ukraine to Protests in New York: A Personal Story

Sam Nahins is a Columbia University graduate student and former US Air Force drone operator. In May 2025, he volunteered on the front lines in Ukraine, working with the humanitarian organization Help is on WayUA. As part of the 25th Ukrainian battalion, Sam spent three weeks under shelling and drone attacks. However, according to him, in Ukraine, he felt much calmer and more confident than in America.

“In Ukraine, I always knew who my enemy was. Here, in New York, it feels like people hate each other,” says Nahins.

Upon returning to New York, he found himself literally trapped — in Butler Library, he was blocked by protesters from the radical group Unity of Fields, known for its anti-Israel and anti-American slogans. On campus, Nahins was insulted and called a “colonizer” and “child-killer” — just for serving America and helping Ukraine.

“My reason for going to Ukraine was simple: I piloted US Air Force drones, flying remotely in the Middle East, fighting ISIS and Al-Qaeda. I served in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. But I had never been in a combat zone.
I was shelled and attacked by drones when I was with the 25th Ukrainian battalion. But I was in safe hands. No one tried to stab me in the back — at least I knew who my enemy was.

It turned out that in Ukraine I felt calmer than in New York.”

Contrast: Attitudes Toward Jews and Americans in Ukraine and the US

In an interview with the New York Post, Sam admits:
— In Ukraine, people wave American flags, respect volunteers, and value the contribution of Israel and Jews.
— Among students in New York, on the contrary, antisemitism has become commonplace, and support for Israel is called a “crime.”

“On the front, even under fire, I felt unity and support. In New York, I no longer feel needed by my hometown,” he notes.

Among other things, Sam recalled: on Veterans Day at the university, they celebrated “Martyrs’ Day” — for him, this was a shock, as a Jew and a patriot.
Statistics: According to surveys, over the past two years, the number of antisemitic incidents on US campuses has nearly doubled. At the same time, 70% of Ukrainians, according to various sociological services, have a positive attitude towards Jews and Americans.

Who Are Help is on WayUA and Why Is This Important

Help is on WayUA is a non-profit organization founded by US veterans to provide rapid humanitarian support to those affected by the war in Ukraine. The fund operates on the principle of maximum transparency: all donations go directly to aid, and bureaucracy and overhead are kept to a minimum.
The team consists of experienced military personnel who personally handle the delivery of humanitarian cargo and organize aid both in Ukraine and for refugees abroad. Special attention is paid to creating support centers for displaced persons and the long-term recovery of families who have lost everything due to the war.

Help is on WayUA actively cooperates with volunteers, administrative staff, and specialists to quickly respond to real needs on the ground. Their mission is to help without delay and unnecessary words, setting an example of honesty and efficiency.

More information is available on the official website.

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NAnews — News of Israel: How Jews and Ukrainians Become Brothers

This story of Sam Nahins is yet another confirmation: the respect and support given to Jews in Ukraine is not uncommon. For the NAnews — News of Israel website, such examples are important: they show that Israel and Ukraine can be true allies in difficult times.
In the midst of war, as Europe and the US face growing xenophobia, Ukraine sets an example of solidarity and true unity, where nationality and religion take a back seat.

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Conclusions for the Jewish and Israeli audience:

• American Jews and Israelis in Ukraine feel support and respect.
• Antisemitism in Western universities is an alarming challenge for all Jewry.
• The experience of the Ukrainian front is an example for Israel and the diaspora of how to value solidarity even in times of crisis.

Read more analytics, stories, and news on NAnews — News of Israel.

Israel has extended an important temporary relief for Ukrainian citizens eligible for repatriation under the Law of Return.

This concerns the exemption from the apostille requirement on Ukrainian documents.

For many people, this sounds like a technical detail, but in practice, the apostille often becomes the barrier that prevents a family from quickly passing verification, submitting documents, or completing status processing in Israel.

On June 25, 2026, the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority published an updated decision on reliefs for Ukrainian citizens eligible for repatriation: the exemption from the apostille has been extended until December 31, 2026.

The official statement specifically notes that this relief applies to Ukrainian citizens.

What is an apostille and why are there so many problems around it

An apostille is an international confirmation that an official document is indeed issued by an authorized body of a specific country.

Simply put, if a person shows a Ukrainian birth, marriage, divorce, name change certificate, or a police clearance certificate in Israel, the Israeli state needs to understand: the document is genuine, the signature is genuine, the seal is genuine, the issuing authority truly exists.

Usually, an apostille is needed for this.

It appeared under the Hague Convention of 1961, which replaced the more complex consular legalization with a single special confirmation. The Hague Conference on Private International Law explains that the purpose of this convention is to eliminate the lengthy and costly legalization procedure and replace it with a single apostille certificate issued by the competent authority of the document’s country of origin.

But the war changed the usual logic.

When a person is in a war zone, has left Ukraine, lost access to archives, cannot quickly obtain a new document, or physically reach the necessary Ukrainian institution, the apostille requirement turns into not just bureaucracy, but an almost insurmountable problem.

That is why Israel has maintained the temporary relief.

Who is affected by Israel’s decision

The decision affects Ukrainian citizens who are potential repatriates, meaning they have the right to repatriation to Israel under the Law of Return.

The Law of Return is one of the fundamental laws of the Israeli immigration system. Official explanations from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration state that the right to repatriation is granted to Jews, their spouses, children, grandchildren, as well as the spouses of children and grandchildren of Jews.

It is important to explain this in simple terms.

If a person has Jewish roots, they may have the right to repatriation not only if they are Jewish by religious definition. In the Israeli civil system, the right to repatriation is broader: it can extend to the children and grandchildren of Jews, as well as to their family members.

For people from the former USSR, the verification of the right to repatriation is handled by “Nativ.” The official website of “Nativ” states that this structure is a professional body that verifies the right to aliyah for natives of the former USSR under the Law of Return and is authorized to issue visas for aliyah.

In the Ukrainian case, it is usually not just about “submitting a set of papers,” but about confirming the family chain: who was born, who was married to whom, where the surname changed, who is a child or grandchild of a Jew, what documents confirm this.

Therefore, the apostille was important at almost every stage.

What documents may be important for repatriation

Each case has its own history, and the exact list of documents depends on the family.

But most often, when verifying the right to repatriation, the following may be required:

• birth certificates;
• marriage certificates;
• divorce certificates;
• death certificates;
• documents on name or surname change;
• police clearance certificates;
• passports;
• military documents;
• archival certificates;
• documents on education;
• documents confirming Jewish origin.

On the Israeli government portal, in the description of the procedure for verifying the right to repatriation for citizens of the former USSR countries, among the necessary documents, a police clearance certificate for family members over 14 years old, confirmed by an apostille, is specifically mentioned.

And here is the main meaning of the current relief.

If under the usual procedure a person is required to have a document with an apostille, then for Ukrainian citizens eligible for repatriation, Israel temporarily recognizes that due to the war, such a document is not always realistically obtainable in the prescribed manner.

This does not cancel the verification itself.

This does not mean that any copies can be submitted without explanations.

This means that the absence of an apostille on a Ukrainian document should not automatically close the path to repatriation for a person until the relief expires.

Until what date is the relief valid

The key date is December 31, 2026.

It is until this date, according to the published update of the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority, that the exemption from the apostille for Ukrainian citizens eligible for repatriation is valid.

For comparison: previous reliefs have already been extended earlier. In December 2024, an update on reliefs for Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian citizens eligible for repatriation was published on the gov.il website, where for Ukrainian citizens, a temporary date for the apostille exemption was separately indicated until June 30, 2025.

Now this line is extended until the end of 2026.

For Ukrainian families, this means that Israel does not consider the war as a short-term problem that can be closed with the usual bureaucratic phrase “submit the document later.” The state effectively recognizes: as long as the war continues, demanding an ideal document package with apostilles from all Ukrainian applicants is unrealistic.

NAnews — Israel News considers it important to explain this not only as a legal news but also as a practical solution for thousands of people trying to arrange their family’s future in wartime conditions.

What this does not mean

It is important not to confuse the relief with a complete cancellation of requirements.

Exemption from the apostille does not mean that Israeli authorities stop verifying documents.

It does not mean that all Ukrainian citizens receive the right to repatriation.

It does not mean that family ties do not need to be proven.

It does not mean that an official document can be replaced with an oral story.

And it does not mean that all problems are automatically solved.

The meaning is different: if a person has the right to repatriation and submits Ukrainian documents but cannot obtain an apostille due to the war, the Israeli system should take this reality into account.

The verification can still be serious.

They may request originals, additional documents, archival confirmations, old Soviet certificates, relatives’ documents, explanations for surname changes, confirmation of the family line.

Particularly careful attention is usually paid to the chain of kinship: applicant — parents — grandmother or grandfather, if the right goes through a Jewish grandfather or grandmother.

That is why it is important for people not to throw away old documents, even if they look “Soviet,” damaged, or outdated. Sometimes an old certificate, archival certificate, or a record of nationality in a relative’s document becomes a key part of the case.

Why this decision is important specifically for Ukraine

Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been living in conditions of full-scale war.

Some archives and institutions are located in regions where access is limited. Some people have left the country. Many have left their documents at home, lost them during evacuation, or require restoration through Ukrainian authorities.

Yes, Ukraine is developing digital solutions. In 2026, with EU support, the electronic apostille system was modernized: the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice and the state enterprise “National Information Systems” updated the Electronic Apostille Register, allowing for obtaining an electronic apostille along with paper processing.

But even the development of digital services does not solve all problems.

First, the document itself must be obtained.

Access to the necessary authority is needed.

It is necessary to understand whether a specific foreign institution accepts an electronic apostille.

It must be taken into account that a person may not have the time, money, connections, safe road, or physical ability to deal with this from a war zone or another country.

Therefore, the Israeli relief remains important even against the backdrop of the digitalization of Ukrainian documents.

What to do for those planning repatriation

The main advice is not to perceive the exemption from the apostille as permission to relax.

On the contrary, documents need to be collected as carefully as possible.

If there are originals — keep the originals.

If there are old relatives’ documents — do not throw them away.

If surnames have changed — prepare the entire chain: birth, marriage, divorce, remarriage, name change.

If the right to repatriation goes through a grandmother or grandfather — collect documents that connect generations.

If a document cannot be obtained with an apostille — prepare an explanation of why it is impossible.

If there is an opportunity to obtain a document in Ukraine or through consular/government services — it is better to do so, even if the apostille is temporarily not required.

Not only the formal paper is important, but also the logic of the whole story.

Israeli authorities need to see a continuous documentary chain, not a set of random certificates.

NAnews — Israel News emphasizes: this relief does not replace legal consultation in complex cases. If there were adoptions, remarriages, lost documents, different surname spellings, old Soviet records, criminal records, or disputed status issues in the family, it is better to check the case with a specialist in advance.

Why the date December 31, 2026, is important for families

The date until the end of 2026 gives people time.

This is especially important for those who are currently between several countries: part of the family in Ukraine, part in Israel, part in Europe.

People have the opportunity not to postpone repatriation just because it is impossible to quickly obtain an apostille.

But this is not an eternal norm.

The wording “at the moment until 31.12.26” means that the decision is temporary. It can be extended, changed, or completed depending on the situation in Ukraine and the position of the Israeli Ministry of Interior.

Therefore, those who are already thinking about repatriation should not wait until the last month of 2026.

Bureaucratic processes rarely like haste.

If the verification of the right to repatriation is needed for the family, it is better to start collecting documents in advance.

Main conclusion

Israel has extended the exemption from the apostille for Ukrainian repatriates until December 31, 2026.

This decision does not cancel the Law of Return, does not automatically expand the circle of those eligible for repatriation, and does not turn a Ukrainian passport into a basis for aliyah.

But it removes one of the most painful bureaucratic barriers for those Ukrainian citizens who truly have the right to repatriation but cannot obtain an apostille on Ukrainian documents due to the war.

For some families, this is a matter of speed.

For others, it is a matter of the possibility of undergoing the procedure at all.

And for Israel, it is a test of the ability to see not only stamps and formalities behind the documents but also the real human situation created by the war.