The Jewish Agency in Israel has claimed that 375 immigrants from Ukraine have moved to Israel in the first three months of 2014 compared to 221 over the same period in 2013, constituting a rise in immigration of 70%, JNS.org reports.

Commenting on the timing of many of the immigrants’ departure, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky has stated that he sees the immigrants’ choice to come to Israel on the eve of Passover and build their home and their children’s future as being symbolic.

Recent domestic political turmoil in Ukraine as well as aggressive diplomatic and military interferences by the Russian Federation in Ukraine have prompted worries that anti-Antisemitism may rise in Ukraine. While there has been a slight uptick in recent months in anti-Semitic incidents, both the new Ukrainian government and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to protect Ukraine’s Jewish community.

(AP)