Traveling (Part 2)

 Over 100,000 Israelis were out of the country when the war started . About half of them are now back in Israel. Ben Gurion airport is "partially reopened" and, according to the "Israel Good News" Whatsapp group, "24,000 Israelis have returned on over 133 repatriation flights--with 44 more incoming flights yesterday, carrying about 8,000. Another 22,8000 Israelis returned through land crossings with Egypt and Jordan".

Cool story: two of our friends' kids (ages 19 and 25) went skiing in Montenegro to celebrate the younger sister's upcoming entrance into the Army. The got "warred" in and finally made it home, a week late. Our friends went to pick them up and had an azaka right when they entered the airport. They followed other people to "one of several" mamadim deep within the airport to find...their kids already in the same mamad :)

Comedian Yohay Sponder did a great bit about "rescuing" people from places with no war and bringing them to a war zone: "So there are rescue flights from countries with no war. We rescued people with zero danger, and rescued them TO the war. That's the rescue. How are you rescued to the risk? You 'risckue!'"

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2097857254307981 if you want to see the whole thing (language warning, which is rare for this comedian)

Leaving Israel is very challenging as few flights are leaving and airlines are only letting on 1/3 of the passengers of a full flight. As in the summer's war with Iran, some people are choosing to leave through Egypt. Here are Chaim v'Chesed's tips for flying through Egypt: 

Without offering any recommendation, we can report the following practical realities:

The journey is arduous.

• 3-4 hour drive to Eilat
• Up to 2 hours at the border crossing
• Approximately 3 additional hours if continuing to Sharm el-Sheikh 
• Those departing from Sharm or Taba must generally connect through Europe before continuing to their final destinations. 

These itineraries are long, complex, and often grueling. Nevertheless, many have completed them successfully, and for now, this remains the most viable mass option