A group of 1,500 Birthright Israel participants set sail on a 13-hour journey to Cyprus aboard the luxury Israeli cruise ship, the Crown Iris, on Tuesday morning, amid the ongoing war with Iran.
This comes after Taglit coordinated with the Home Front Command to allow the participants to leave the country. En route to Limassol, Cyprus, from Ashdod Port, the vessel is under the close protection of the Israel Navy, which escorted it across the Mediterranean.
The remainder of the 2,800 international participants who were in Israel when war broke out on Friday have chosen to depart via other means or have chosen to stay in Israel with family.
Since Friday, the participants on the funded trip to Israel have been near protected areas in central Israel or in a hotel in Mitzpe Ramon.
A Taglit source told The Jerusalem Post that the organization explored every option for the participants to leave Israel, including traveling to Jordan, commercial flights, and so forth, but there were no aircraft available in-country after the airspace was closed.
“We then arranged through Mano Shipping, with Home Front Command approval, for a vessel that departed on Tuesday and is due to arrive in Cyprus tomorrow,” the source said.
This effort also included Masa participants and other organizations that are running programs in Israel at the moment. Priority was given to participants nearing the end of their 10-day educational experience.
Taglit handled all passports and logistics on Monday. Upon arrival in Cyprus, the participants will be flown to their hometowns, with all transportation costs, including sea and air travel, being fully covered by Birthright Israel.
All US participants will fly to Tampa, Florida, via four wide-body planes chartered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel, said, “This was a complex and emotional operation, carried out under immense pressure, and we are proud to have brought 1,500 young adults safely to Cyprus.
“Our team continues to work around the clock to secure solutions for the remaining participants still in Israel.”
Aboard the Crown Iris
One participant, Q, spoke to the Post from aboard the boat to Cyprus. Q came on a Birthright program for people who have been to Israel before but who want to volunteer.
Just a few days into his program – based in Tel Aviv – war broke out with Iran, and the participants were told that the program was shut down.
On Sunday, the participants were given the option to go with the program organizers to Mitzpe Ramon and stay in a catered, funded hotel or to leave the program and sign a waiver saying that Taglit no longer has any more responsibility over their safety or their movements going forward.
The communications circa the waiver, which were shared with the Post, says, “In case you choose to stay with family here in Israel and not join the group as we head south, please make sure you understand that you are officially removing yourself from the program.”
“For those who choose to do so, a waiver will be sent out. Due to the situation, your security deposit will be refunded.”
However, despite the program not being responsible for the security of participants who choose to stay with family, they were assured that they will still be included in any flight home that becomes available.
Q told the Post he decided to go to Mitzpe Ramon with the program, with the expectation they would be there until Thursday. However, on Monday, the participants received information saying they had the option to leave on a boat.
If they chose not to take the boat, the participants could again choose to leave the program and stay in Israel but would have to sign the waiver.
The Crown Iris departed from the port of Ashdod on Tuesday. After arriving in Cyprus, Q plans on flying to Italy and then back to his home in the US.