Bennett urges Israel’s citizens to leave Ukraine

Israel's prime minister urged the country's citizens to leave Ukraine as the threat of a possible invasion by Russia continued to grow.

"Like the entire world, we hope that the tension will end without an escalation. But our first obligation is to take care of Israeli citizens," Naftali Bennett said Sunday, at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Bennett said that Israel had increased the frequency of flights from Ukraine in order to assist Israeli citizens to leave the country.

"I am calling again upon Israelis in Ukraine: come home. Don't take unnecessary risks. Don't wait for a situation where you will really want to come back but it will be impossible...Leave Ukraine as quickly as possible and come home."

Western intelligence officials have warned in recent days that a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine is increasingly imminent.

Israel has already started bringing the families of its diplomats back and has urged its citizens to leave the country.

The Israeli Embassy in Kiev however, will continue to operate with its full team of diplomatic staff remaining, according to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

IMAGE: AP