The The Jerusalem Post reports that the terminal is expected to handle up to 500 passengers per hour and will serve thousands of Haredim, or ultra-Orthodox, Jews who plan to make an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Ukraine. Flights to Moldova are scheduled for mid- to late September, with return flights scheduled for the last week of the month.
The terminal is expected to cost about $2.6 million (43.6 million lei) to build. This amount is expected to be transferred to the Moldovan government, while additional policing, security and catering costs are estimated at about 7 million shekels (about 35 million lei). Israel will also send a team of 90 aviation security officers, 24 police officers and 50 interpreters to manage the operation on the ground.
The agreement is still awaiting final approval from Jerusalem. A senior government official told N12 television that Moldova insists on an immediate transfer of funds, which Israeli officials say is unrealistic. He noted that the government is not in a position to act on such short notice.
At the same time, the IDF is preparing to deploy military police at all official exit points from Israel, including Ben-Gurion Airport, land crossings and seaports. This measure is aimed at preventing deserters and draft evaders from traveling to Uman during Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) celebrations.
(As a reminder, Israel is currently engaged in active hostilities as part of the so-called “war in Gaza”, which began in 2023).
In August, the government allocated 10 million shekels (LE 50 million) to support the trip to Uman, which drew criticism from a number of opposition lawmakers who argued that public funds should not be used to facilitate travel for evaders.
Shortly after the funding was approved, the deputy attorney general ruled that the government did not have the legal authority to allow yeshiva students who did not report for military service to leave the country. The official stated that any such measure would be illegal.
Several political leaders, including Yair Lapid and Moldovan-born Avigdor Lieberman, voiced strong objections to the measure. They argued that the state should not subsidize flights for those who shirk national service, especially in wartime.
The annual pilgrimage to Uman has long been a source of controversy in Israeli society. Although members of the Bratslav Hasidic movement consider it a spiritually significant event, the trip continues to attract intense scrutiny, especially when national politics intersect with religious privilege. In recent years, the number of visitors has exceeded 35,000, each time causing logistical and ethical problems as the holiday approaches.
