The Jerusalem Post reports:

The order comes amid growing tension between Israel and Russia over Jerusalem’s stance on the war in Ukraine and its policy of standing with Kyiv and its embattled leader, Volodymyr Zelensky. On Monday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry called strikes on Syria that have been blamed on Israel unacceptable, and it demanded an unconditional cessation of the attacks.

An order forcing the Jewish Agency to stop its work in Russia is dramatic and could directly undermine the ability of Russian Jews to immigrate to Israel. Thousands of them have finished their paperwork and have been waiting for flights to become available to Israel. However, the sanctions on Russia have caused most international airlines to stop flying to the country, and therefore, future immigrants are “stuck” in Russia, according to Israeli officials.

“People from the Jewish community have been feeling the Iron Curtain setting on them, and they fear they won’t be able to escape the country,” a senior source in Russia’s Jewish community told the Post. According to one source, “a number of Jews have said that the Russian authorities are trying to arrest them and that they fear for their lives.” [Continue reading…]