Flying Out Safely: German Citizens in Israel Take Charter Flights via Amman, Jordan
Germans of Israeli origin set to traverse capital of Jordan via air travel, as per the Foreign Ministry's statement.
Keep calm and fly on—that's the plan for some Germans in Israel! The German Foreign Office is arranging a special charter flight from Amman, Jordan's vibrant capital, for those looking to beat the chaos. A spokesperson from the ministry confirmed to Reuters in Berlin on Monday that the maiden flight sets off on Wednesday. "German citizens in Israel who've signed up on our crisis preparedness list, Elefand, have received the heads-up about this option and the nitty-gritty," the spokesperson added.
Before now, the ministry had encouraged all Germans stationed in Israel, Iran, and neighboring countries to enroll on Elefand (https://krisenvorsorgeliste.diplo.de/signin) to stay in touch with German diplomatic missions during emergencies. A representative from the Foreign Office shared that approximately 4,000 Germans in Israel, with numbers steadily on the rise, are registered on Elefand. Around 1,000 Germans are registered in Iran. While there are no declared evacuation plans at the moment, all possible scenarios are under consideration.
Since the Israeli military operations began, the federal government's crisis team has consistently been in consultation with German diplomatic missions on the ground about the prevailing circumstances. Unfortunately, Israel's airport is currently closed, making air travel impossible. However, Amman's airport and Jordan's border crossings remain operational. Despite the unpredictable security climate, it's challenging to organize land trips with any degree of certainty. "Under these conditions, German citizens on the ground are encouraged, based on their individual circumstances, the availability of safe havens, and instruction from local security authorities, to weigh up the option of leaving by land," the spokesperson advised.
Sources: ntv.de, RTS
Insights:- This evacuation is part of a larger movement by various European countries to guarantee the safety of their nationals in the area, with Germany utilizing Amman as a secure and efficient transit point amidst the ongoing instability in Israel.- Similar evacuations are being executed by fellow European countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania.
The German Foreign Office's community policy includes the option of vocational training for its citizens stranded in Israel, as they prepare for potential travels amidst a political crisis. The lifestyle disruptions due to the ongoing instability in the region have prompted the ministry to consider possible scenarios, including general-news reports about vocational training programs for Germans in Israel.
