Radio România Internațional

Tag: Romanians in Israel

  • Romanian Prime Minister visits Israel

    Romanian Prime Minister visits Israel

    High-profile
    politicians from all over the world have visited Israel or are about to in
    order to express solidarity with this country, hard hit by the Hamas terrorist
    attacks, looking of ways to avoid a regional war. Romania’s Prime Minister,
    Marcel Ciolacu, was also one of the European leaders that visited Israel on
    Tuesday. During his meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu,
    Prime Minister Ciolacu conveyed a message of compassion on behalf of Romanian
    society for the victims of the October 7 attack. Bucharest is concerned about
    the consequences of the terrible attacks on the civilian population, both
    Israelis and Palestinians, Marcel Ciolacu said, adding that Romania continues
    to promote peace and will stand with its allies in these troubled times.


    I decided to visit
    Israel today because, in such troubled times, such as the ones experienced
    today by the Israeli people, a country’s friends and partners must show their
    solidarity. Romanian society, the Israeli community in Romania and the Romanian
    community in Israel mourn the death of innocent women, children and youth,
    killed in the Hamas terrorist attack. Romania has firmly condemned the attacks
    in Israel, the atrocities committed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that
    holds the Palestinian population hostage to accomplish its extremist goals. The
    Romanian Parliament was one of the first legislative bodies among democratic
    states to adopt a resolution expressing solidarity with the State of Israel.


    Marcel Ciolacu called
    for the immediate release of all hostages and people abducted and for avoiding
    all acts of aggression, in particular targeting civilian population. The Prime
    Minister insisted on opening humanitarian corridors in Gaza and providing
    assistance to refugees. Marcel Ciolacu thanked Israeli authorities for taking action
    to support the repatriation of Romanian citizens. Over 2,000 Romanian nationals
    were brought home from Israel. The Foreign Ministry is monitoring another 350
    Romanians and their families in Gaza, of whom some 200 have called for
    assistance to get home. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured his Romanian
    counterpart that Israeli authorities will do everything in their power to help
    evacuate Romanians from Gaza and thanked Romania for its show of solidarity.
    The civilized world should rally behind Israel in its fight to eradicate Hamas.
    No one could make peace with Daesh (The Islamic State, ISIS, e.n.), no one
    could make peace with Al-Qaeda, no one could make peace with the Nazis. They
    must be defeated, and then we shall have peace, the Israeli Prime Minister
    pointed out. At the special meeting of the European Council held by video
    conference, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis strongly condemned the Hamas
    terrorist attacks in Israel. Romania unequivocally supports Israel’s legitimate
    right to defend itself, which should observe the standards of international
    humanitarian law, the Romanian president added. (VP)

  • October 13, 2023 UPDATE

    October 13, 2023 UPDATE

    MIDDLE EAST CRISIS – In a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart,
    Isaac Herzog, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, on Friday condemned the
    unacceptable attacks against Israel, expressing regret over the loss of
    countless innocent lives. Romania is ready to provide emergency assistance if
    required, Klaus Iohannis said, thanking president Herzog for Israel’s support
    in helping Romanian citizens get back safely. The Knesset on Thursday voted the
    creation of a national emergency government and a war cabinet. Pundits say an
    extended coalition is needed to pass military and political decisions over the
    coming days after last Saturday’s unprecedented attack on Israel. Launched by
    Hamas insurgents in Gaza, the attack and the ensuing Israeli retaliation strikes
    have already killed thousands of people on both sides. Some 150 people are held
    hostage by Hamas in Gaza.




    ROMANIAN VICTIMS – Two
    Romanians with Israeli citizenship and residing in Israel have been killed
    since the start of the crisis in the Middle East, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
    announced. One fatality was announced by Israeli authorities on October 9 while
    another person reported missing on Thursday was confirmed dead on Friday. The
    Romanian MFA has conveyed condolences to the victims’ families, firmly
    condemning terrorism in all its forms. The Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the
    General Consulate in Haifa are in permanent contact with Israeli authorities to
    collect reports on Romanian citizens.




    REPATRIATIONS – Over 2,160 Romanian
    nationals have been brought back home safely from Israel onboard flights
    operated by the national airline TAROM, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
    announced. A few hundred Romanians in Gaza are monitored by Bucharest
    authorities as well, although only some request assistance to get home. Prime
    Minister Marcel Ciolacu says the Cabinet might cover repatriation costs for
    citizens with low income and has called on Romanians to avoid pilgrimages to
    Israel.




    PRODUCTION – Romania’s
    agricultural production in 2022 stood at nearly 22 bln EUR, according to data
    published by the National Statistics Institute. Yields went up slightly in the
    south compared to the previous year. Overall, however, total output went down
    by as much as 39%. Compared to 2021, livestock reported increases in developing
    regions in the west, northwest, south and center.




    FOOTBALL – Romania’s national
    football side ended in a goaless draw their Thursday’s match against Belarus in
    Budapest as part of the EURO 2024 preliminaries. Although they managed a good
    show on Thursday, the Romanians failed to defeat a rather modest opponent.
    Belarus is playing its games on neutral ground, under a UEFA decision. In
    another Group I game, Kosovo defeated Andorra 3-0 while the match pitting Israel
    against Switzerland has been postponed for November 15th. After the draw on
    Thursday, Romania ranks second in the group with 13 points after Switzerland
    with 14. Israel ranks third with 11 points, followed by Kosovo with 7, Belarus
    with 5 and Andorra with 2. On Sunday, Romania will be playing Andorra at home
    in a game where only children under 14 are granted access to the stadium. (DB
    & VP)

  • October 8, 2023 UPDATE

    October 8, 2023 UPDATE

    ATTACKS IN ISRAEL – Israel’s Security Council has declared a state of war
    following the attacks launched by the Palestinian military group Hamas,
    allowing this country to take significant military steps, the Prime
    Minister’s office announced on Sunday. The war, which has killed hundreds of
    people on both sides following Saturday’s attacks staged by Hamas, followed by
    Israeli retaliations, was triggered by a terrorist criminal attack from Gaza.
    As fighting continues, Israel decided to cut off supplies of electricity, fuel
    and goods to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah
    launched mortar fire from southern Lebanon, while the Israeli forces responded
    with artillery fire. Palestinian groups also operate in southern Lebanon,
    although the area is control by the Hezbollah Shiite militias. Hezbollah boasts
    a considerable missile arsenal threatening northern Israel, as well as seasoned
    fighters who fought in the war in Syria on the side of president Bashar
    al-Assad.




    ROMANIANS IN ISRAEL – In the context of the escalation of the security context
    in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Romanian Foreign Ministry is coordinating
    with the Romanian Embassies in Tel Aviv and Amman and is monitoring a group of
    92 Romanians who arrived in Israel from Jordan, calling for assistance with a
    view to getting back home. At the same time, a mobile consular team will be
    deployed to Tel Aviv to support the activity of the local Embassy and Romania’s
    representative office in Ramallah. 346 Romanian and foreign citizens were
    transported to Romania onboard two flights operated by the national airline
    TAROM, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. Meanwhile, Wizz Air has
    cancelled all flights in and out of Tel Aviv for Sunday, announcing they would
    reschedule the trips or provide refunds and accommodation to passengers. Wizz
    Air recommends people should contact their travel agents or check online platforms
    to modify their already-booked tickets. Bucharest firmly condemned the attacks
    of Hamas. In a press release, the Romanian Foreign Ministry referred to
    Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself, also issuing a travel alert for this
    country, advising Romanians to cancel their travels to this country, or in case
    of people already on the ground, to follow instructions from local authorities,
    take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows it.




    VISIT – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, currently on a visit
    to Portugal, is meeting Prime Minister António Costa, Assembly Speaker Augusto
    Santos Silva and members of Parliament on Monday. On Saturday, Klaus Iohannis
    held talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, focusing
    on the war in Ukraine. On this occasion, president Iohannis thanked Portugal
    for its substantial contribution to NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on
    the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. The presence of Portuguese servicemen in Romania
    is a strong expression of Portugal’s solidarity and support for strengthening
    Romania’s security, the Romanian official said. In turn, president de Sousa
    said his country supports Romania’s efforts to join Schengen and the OECD.




    MEETING – Prime Minister
    Marcel Ciolacu on Monday is leading a government delegation attending the
    Romania-Bulgaria-Greece trilateral meeting in Varna, Bulgaria. The Romanian
    official will also meet with his Bulgarian and Greek counterparts, Nikolai
    Denkov and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, respectively. On the sidelines of the event,
    the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the two Prime
    Ministers. Members of the Romanian delegation will attend panels on regional
    security and energy and transport cooperation. (VP)





  • October 8, 2023

    October 8, 2023


    ATTACKS IN ISRAEL – The death toll of the attacks launched against Israel by the Palestinian military group Hamas has reached at least 350 and over 1,500 wounded. Israel has launched a military retaliation in Gaza, which killed over 300 people and wounded another 2,000. As fighting continues, Israel decided to cut off supplies of electricity, fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah launched mortar fire from southern Lebanon, while the Israeli forces responded with artillery fire. Palestinian groups also operate in southern Lebanon, although the area is control by the Hezbollah Shiite militias. Hezbollah boasts a considerable missile arsenal threatening northern Israel, as well as seasoned fighters who fought in the war in Syria on the side of president Bashar al-Assad.




    ROMANIANS IN ISRAEL – In the wake of the attacks, 346 Romanian and foreign citizens were transported to Romania onboard two flights operated by the national airline TAROM, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. Groups of Romanian pilgrims are still in Tel Aviv and have received accommodation and assistance with support from the Israeli authorities and the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate, which are looking for solutions to bring them home. Romanian citizens in Israel can contact the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv to announce their presence in the region, while the Foreign Ministry has advised everyone to postpone their travel plans for this country. Meanwhile, Wizz Air has cancelled all flights in and out of Tel Aviv for Sunday, announcing they would reschedule the trips or provide refunds and accommodation to passengers. Wizz Air recommends people should contact their travel agents or check online platforms to modify their already-booked tickets. Approximately 900 Romanians, mostly pilgrims, are currently in Israel, none of whom are currently in difficulty, the authorities say. On Saturday, Bucharest firmly condemned the attacks of Hamas. In a press release, the Romanian Foreign Ministry referred to Israels sovereign right to defend itself, also issuing a travel alert for this country, advising Romanians to cancel their travels to this country, or in case of people already on the ground, to follow instructions from local authorities, take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows it.




    REFUGEES – Approximately 223 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign nationals, and some 58 thousand vehicles crossed Romanias borders on Saturday, the Border Police General Inspectorate reports. 10,853 Ukrainian citizens crossed into Romania on Saturday, taking the total number of Ukrainian nationals who entered Romania starting February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian army invaded their country, to 6,310,870.




    VISIT – Romanias president, Klaus Iohannis, currently on a visit to Portugal, is meeting Prime Minister António Costa, Assembly Speaker Augusto Santos Silva and members of Parliament on Monday. On Saturday, Klaus Iohannis held talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, focusing on the war in Ukraine. On this occasion, president Iohannis thanked Portugal for its substantial contribution to NATOs deterrence and defense posture on the Alliances Eastern Flank. “The presence of Portuguese servicemen in Romania is a strong expression of Portugals solidarity and support for strengthening Romanias security”, the Romanian official said. In turn, president de Sousa said his country supports Romanias efforts to join Schengen and the OECD.




    MEETING – Labor Minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu will lead Romanias delegation attending the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council hosted by Luxembourg on Monday. According to the European Commission, the agenda will focus on the 2023 European Semester, social economy, mental health and precarious work, social protection and access to housing. With regard to the European Semester, EU ministers will discuss the impact of new technologies on labor and a just digital transition. The Council also plans to endorse key messages on employment and social challenges by the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee, and ministers will be invited to adopt the 2023 employment guidelines for the member states.




    PILGRIMAGE – The traditional annual pilgrimage to the reliquary of Saint Paraskeva of the Balkans, a major Saint in the Romanian orthodox tradition, continues in Iași, northeastern Romania. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from Romania and beyond and expected to pray before the shrine to Saint Paraskeva, celebrated on October 14 in Romania. (VP)