Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz announced that Israel is not planning any policy changes and it does not plan to accept refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war in Syria. His statements came amid reports that seven wounded Syrians were permitted to cross the N. Golan Heights border on Shabbos 6 Adar 5773, and they were transported to Rebecca Ziv Hospital in Tzfas.

Steinitz spoke of the complexity of the situation in Syria over the past two years, explaining that one should not believe there has been a change in policy because seven wounded people were taken in for treatment for this is not the case.

The senior minister stated the move was a humanitarian gesture by military commanders and in no way a reflective of a government policy decision to begin accepting refugees.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)