Descendants of the Righteous Among the Nations may be deported from Israel

The Situation of the Righteous’ Descendants Under Threat

The fate of about a hundred descendants of the Righteous Among the Nations has come into question due to new procedures by Israel’s Ministry of the Interior. They may face the threat of deportation from the country, writes October 21, 2025 detaly.co.il.

On Tuesday, October 21, a meeting of the special committee on Holocaust survivors was held in the Knesset. It was chaired by Member of Knesset Merav Cohen from the Yesh Atid party. The discussion focused on the procedure canceling residence permits for the third and fourth generations of the Righteous’ descendants.

The History of the Righteous and Their Descendants

The discussion concerns the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who saved Jews during the Holocaust by hiding them from the Nazis. Since 2022, a new Ministry of the Interior directive allows only the children and minor grandchildren of the Righteous to obtain permanent status.

Adult descendants face visa renewal refusals, leaving many of them in Israel without legal status. This creates a real threat of deportation.

Accusations and Requests for Help

At the meeting, accusations were made against the state. “Israel, a nation that survived persecution and destruction, today shows indifference to the descendants of those who saved it,” said Cohen. She emphasized that there are no more than a hundred such families living in the country, and the decision would not require expenses. Nevertheless, as Cohen noted, the Ministry of the Interior is delaying the process, citing legal procedures and bureaucratic requirements.

Personal Experience and Challenges of Parents

Particularly moving was the speech by Maria Babi, the granddaughter of Ukrainian Righteous who saved 15 Jews. She shared that it is important for their family to maintain the ability to care for her sick mother and occasionally visit relatives in Ukraine, where there is currently a war. “My grandfather saved 14 Jews and a baby, and now we are strangers in the land of Israel,” she said.

The Moral Aspect of the Problem

Miriam Graiber, a Holocaust survivor, reminded that refusing help to those in need is a moral crime. In response, a representative of the Ministry of the Interior stated that “the issue is being considered by the court.”

Merav Cohen concluded the meeting by emphasizing that this is not a legal issue, but a matter of conscience. “It must be resolved with an open heart,” she concluded.