Jewish family escapes from Syria, arrives safely in Israel

Date: 

Thursday, July 3, 2014
By YOSSI MELMAN
LAST UPDATED: 07/03/2014 

The rescue was organized by an Israeli-American humanitarian activist with the help of Syrian opposition leaders, the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption.

 

A Syrian boy crosses through the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, as seen from the Israeli side of the Golan Heights [Illustrative] Photo: REUTERS
News of the recent escape of a Jewish family from Syria to Israel was cleared for publication Thursday.

The mixed Jewish-Muslim family fled the battlefields of Syria a few weeks ago, with two family members leading the way and the rest following later on. They made their way through several dangerous road blocks manned by Assad's Syrian military and various militias of the opposition. Eventually they managed to leave Syria and fly to Israel.

Once a flourishing community of thousands, the remaining Jewish population in Syria numbers around 20, all of whom live in Damascus. Though they are allowed leave the country, they have seemingly decided to ride out the conflict.

The rescue operation was facilitated by Moti Kahana, an Israeli-American businessman who has been involved in recent years in humanitarian efforts for Syrian refugees. 

In the course of his humanitarian activity he fostered connections with leaders of the Syrian opposition, and enlisted their help to get the Jewish family out of the country.

The Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption were also privy to the secret efforts. The family, who asked not to be named, is now living in a government absorption center north of Tel Aviv.

To bring the family to Israel, Kahana also cooperated with Israel Flying Aid, an NGO led by Gal Luski. The organization is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to countries with whom Israel does not have diplomatic relations, but who find themselves in the midst of natural or human-made disasters.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Luski and representatives of her organization last week. Netanyahu also met with Israel's youth movement, which collected several tons of food, medication, clothing and other supplies for the Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey. Netanyahu praised their work.