Transportation Minister Miri Regev has decided to suspend the night curfew at Ben-Gurion Airport in order to accommodate flights to Uman, Ukraine, for the Breslov Hasidim during the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday.
Regev's directive aims to avoid overcrowding at Ben-Gurion during the holiday weekend and address the high demand for these flights. The flights will operate between 2:00 and 5:00 AM, a time when such departures are usually prohibited.
Regev said that the directive "was intended to make it easier on the worshippers" and provide airlines with a more flexible schedule.
The night curfew at Ben-Gurion was originally implemented to minimize noise disturbances during nighttime departures, and its removal requires a special order from the transportation minister.
This measure will be applied exclusively to flights bound for destinations near Uman on two specific dates: Sunday, September 21, and Friday, September 25.
Using public funds may erode public trust in the transportation minister
The government recently approved a budget of approximately NIS 10 million to fund these flights, prompting a response from several Knesset members
Led by opposition MK Vladimir Beliak, the group called for an urgent discussion regarding the allocation of these funds.
The lawmakers raised concerns that using public funds for flights to Uman could erode public trust.
"It is unacceptable for public funds to finance private flights abroad, especially when among the passengers are young individuals who are obligated to enlist but violate the law by not reporting for recruitment," the letter from the Knesset members stated.
Critics also pointed to the broader context of government cuts to essential services, such as healthcare, education, and welfare, arguing that these funds could be better spent elsewhere. The allocation of taxpayer money for these flights, they argued, sends a message of misaligned priorities.