Exhausted and anxious about their future, 110 refugees from
Kosovo arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport Monday afternoon, where
they were met by senior Israeli officials including Prime
Minister Netanyahu.
Earlier in the week, Israeli representatives walked though a
miserable refugee camp at Bradze outside the Macedonia
capital of Skopje, with loudspeakers, asking if anyone was
interested in going to Israel. Interior Minister Suissa
insisted that entire families be brought, since he said that
bringing individuals would open the possibility of subsequent
requests for family unification, bringing in hundreds more
Albanians. Suissa also insisted on giving them six month
tourist visas, instead of permanent resident status. Trying
to minimize the number of non-Jews allowed to enter Israel,
Suissa has also refused to grant citizenship to 25 Bosnian
refugees brought in six months ago.
Among the newcomers of Lamia Jaka, the daughter of Righteous
Gentiles Dervish and Servet Kurkut of Kosovo, and her
husband, Vlaznim. Lamia's parents saved both Jews and
religious texts during the Holocaust. Davor Berkowitz of
Neveh Ilan, whose mother was saved by Lamia's parents who hid
her in their home, was on hand for a tearful reunion. The
couple's children are in Budapest and are expected to arrive
soon.
The Albanian Muslim refugees also included a physician, two
dental students, an engineer, a theatrical director, several
infants, an elderly woman in a wheelchair. Most came from
urban backgrounds, similar to life in Israel.
Netanyahu said that while not even the worst Balkan tragedy
could compare to the Holocaust, "as Jews we have special
sensitivity to the suffering of others. When we see cars,
trains, trucks, and lines of refugees, and the faces of
frightened children and crying mothers, we feel a
responsibility to get up and help."
The group of 110, including six babies, was put together by
Jewish Agency staff at the camp after agency emissary Ori
Konfurti went through the it two days ago, trying to sell the
virtues of Israel over such countries as Germany, Canada, or
Norway.
The refugees were processed at the airport for their initial
six-month stay, receiving tourist visas which will allow them
to work and initial pocket money prior to receiving an
absorption grant.
Then they boarded buses for the trip to the Kibbutz Ma'agan
Michael field school.
Israel has tried to stay out of the political aspects of the
conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and has drawn some
criticism from the West for not being more enthusiastic in
its support of NATO actions. While not avoiding or minimizing
the tragedy, there is a reluctance to condemn the Serbs too
vigorously, perhaps also because of the support they enjoy
from the Russians whom Israel is currently trying to
court.
It is also well known that the Serbs saved thousands of local
Jews during the Holocaust, and many survivors and their
children live in Israel today. This is true, but it is not
the complete picture. "The Serbs helped the Jews, the Croats
helped the Jews, but the Albanians probably helped the Jews
most," said Miriam Steiner-Aviezer, a researcher into
Yugoslavian Jewry, and member of Yad Vashem's committee for
recognition of Righteous Gentiles. The Albanians are said to
have rescued their entire Jewish community, a feat that was
equaled only in Denmark.
There is also some ambivalence because of parallels that some
draw between the situation of the Serbs and Israel. Kosovo is
the historic heartland of the Serbian nation, and despite the
fact that Moslem Albanians have settled there in recent
years, it is inconceivable for the Serbians to think about
losing control there. Their national identity is tied to
events that took place there. The Moslem Albanians, though
they are now suffering terribly, are not blameless either,
having engaged in terror of their own against their Christian
neighbors. Even a senior Israeli diplomat was quoted in the
press as voicing the fear that Israel could become the object
of NATO intervention in the future, though this was later
denied. Israeli Arabs in the Galil could ask for NATO's
backing in a bid for autonomy.
In an interview a few weeks ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu
said he had made his position clear: "We stand behind the
effort, the effort of NATO and President Clinton, to end this
tragedy." From there he went on to emphasize that Israel
"offers help to refugees going through this suffering."
Maintaining that the NATO bombing was necessary if the Kosovo
refugees were to be saved, an Israeli diplomat said: "In the
face of such a tragedy, the State of Israel has to take sides
with the victim."
Local organizations are collecting money and goods from
Israeli citizens to distribute in Albania. One organization,
Latet, has already raised approximately $10,000 out of the
$30,000 needed for an emergency shipment. Both the Jewish
Agency and Keren Hayesod plan to airlift emergency
supplies.
Last Friday, Sharon sent off a plane carrying 12 tons of
medical supplies. "Israel is always ready to provide
humanitarian aid and relief to innocent refugees. This is a
moral responsibility of the State of Israel and the Jewish
people," Sharon said. Several other planes were sent by the
government.
