Aug 10, 2008 22:36 | Updated Aug 10, 2008 23:46
Jewish Agency evacuates Jews from central Georgia
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By STEPHANIE RUBENSTEIN
Two hundred Jews in central Georgia were evacuated to the country’s
capital, after Russian bombing posed a threat to the area’s safety.
The group was taken to Tbilisi which is not expected to become
dangerous, as Russia is focusing on the South Ossetia region, said
Jewish Agency spokesperson Alex Selsky on Sunday. Some of the Jewish
men decided to stay in the city of Gori and its surrounding towns near
South Ossetia where that region’s Jewish community resides, in order
to secure their homes, he added.
As of Friday, there was no risk to the Jewish community in that town,
but as the conflict escalated between the feuding sides, the border
became part of the battleground. The Jewish Agency sensed a threat and
moved people to the capital in buses and cars, Selsky said.
Gregory Brodsky, a Jewish Agency emisarry in Georgia reiterated
Selsky’s assurance that the capital was safe.
"There is no immediate danger [in Tbilisi], and there is no
expectation that a dangerous situation will develop here in the
future. We are going to do everything that we can to help the people
here."
There are currently around 12,000 Jews in Georgia, most of whom live
in the capital. Should the danger increase, the Jewish Agency says it
is prepared to evacuate people to Israel. Information rooms in both
Tbilisi and Israel have been opened in order to help inform the public
about the status of family members and hometowns in the embattled
region.
Selsky said the Jewish Agency is acting in full cooperation with
Foreign Ministry, which is also working to provide updates to Georgian
tourists in Israel.
Those calling the hotline have been mainly requesting information
regarding what they heard on the news, or how they can get in touch
with family members in the area, according to Chen Mor, a hotline
receptionist for the Jewish Agency.
Chief Rabbi of Georgia Ariel Levine who arrived in Israel on Thursday
said there were reports of three or four Jews missing from the city of
Tskhinvali, which borders South Ossetia.
"People are afraid of bombings and artillery fire. The Jewish
community is located only 60 kilometers from Gori, which was already
bombed," Levine said.
The following are the hotline numbers: Israel: 02-620-2202; Georgia:
995-32-98-7091.
Matthew Wagner contributed to this report.