Israel - Flights to Uman to be Increased by 16%

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Israel - New flights to Kiev will be increased by 16 percent during the High Holy Days to meet the demand from Israelis who want to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav in Uman for Rosh Hashana.

Both countries will be entitled to operate a second carrier on the Tel Aviv-Kiev route, according to a draft agreement signed by Udi Zohar, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority, and his Ukrainian colleague Alexander Davidov.

Currently, only El Al and Aerosvit Airlines, the largest Ukrainian carrier, are allowed to operate on the route. The deal comes after almost a year of discussions.

Under the agreement, the Israeli and Ukrainian carriers will be able to provide 22 weekly flights starting in the summer of 2009, increasing to 28 in the summer of 2010. At present, there are 16 flights per week.

The Transportation Ministry reported that Ukraine refused Israel's request to eliminate entirely the limitations on religion tourism to Uman during Rosh Hashana.

A Foreign Ministry source told the Post: "Imagine how Israel would tolerate tens of thousands of Ukrainians inundating the country every year. True, the Ukrainians definitely profit from the tourism attracted by the gravesite. But there is also a downside to the yearly pilgrimage to Uman. I would not want to live in a town that was taken over every year by 20,000 Breslav hassidim."