INTERVIEW // Moldova's Ambassador to Israel Alexandr Roitman speaks about challenges faced by Moldovans, exports, interpersonal relations

Chisinau, 28 December /MOLDPRES/ - Interview given exclusively with the MOLDPRES Agency by Moldova’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the State of Israel Alexandr Roitman.    

MOLDPRES: Mr. Ambassador Alexandr Roitman, you fulfill your mission in a far-away country; from the geographical viewpoint, the distance between us is of thousands of kilometers; yet, at the same time, it is spiritually close through the large number of Moldovans who travel to Israel; either they found a job or resort to medical services, they have relatives or simply they were set to visit this country. Taking into account the present circumstances, armed conflict, security problems, how the Moldovans find their way about, what challenges they face and to what extent the Embassy can help them?       

Alexandr Roitman: I think that our diplomatic system is pretty open; we have an open, pro-active communication and I am part of this communication. Which is our mission there? To represent the interests of our citizens and to do in such a way, so that their temporary stay there or labour carried out in the State of Israel should unfold in the best conditions.    

There is a specific climate, the country is specific, there is armed conflict, the security situation is permanently changing and unfortunately, it has worsened even more. I endeavoured, this was a goal of my communication to explain the citizens what is happening in the country, which the dangers are; how can they protect themselves. Not all citizens know the Hebrew language; certain instructions of the state are issued only in the state’s language. The situation is permanently changing pretty intensely and then you should bring the information to your citizen as quickly as possible.  I think that this was one of the objectives fulfilled during this year. I think that I gave over 100 interviews in critical moments, when the war started; the second phase – the conflict in the northern part of the border. Our citizens are quite receptive; they follow our information; our Facebook page has over 1,000 followers. It is quite important that we continue this aspect of the communication. I noticed that it is quite well-received by the citizens; this is a useful issue and we will continue in the same formula, if not even more.          

We held a string of meetings with representatives of the Interior Ministry, Labour Ministry, in order to popularize the new rules, instructions by the Israeli authorities among our citizens. We were making lives on Facebook with these representatives while translating questions of our citizens and Israeli civil servants were giving answers on the rights of the Moldovan citizens. I tried, at the maximum, to popularize the information which is, in fact, available. I believe that it is better for us to get closer to the citizen, to bring him/her the answers to his/her questions, better than reading by himself and not receive answers to the private questions.      

MOLDPRES: How many Moldovans work in Israel and in which fields they are employed? What rights and social guarantees they benefit from?    

Alexandr Roitman: We have a number of 15,000 citizens of Moldova who legally work in the State of Israel. It is about the sector of constructions and the field of servants at home. There are a lot of situations when our citizens appeal to the diplomatic mission for assistance in the case of certain legal disputes or certain cases dealing with their activity in Israel. What makes me happy is that, in all cases, the addressings which we had, we made the necessary steps to the Israeli institutions, the Interior Ministry, Labour Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and we received an answer on each case; the situation improved. It is important that the rights of our citizens who work in Israel should be observed and a good deal of the efforts which we make in our work is for this thing to happen.

As for the social protection of the Moldovans, there are two elements which I will mention. For the workers in the constructions sector, we have a bilateral document signed. The entire procedure of recruiting, activity in the State of Israel is compliant with this bilateral agreement signed. The agreement implies the mechanisms of guaranteeing the rights of our citizens. The diplomatic mission provides support to citizens, in order to ensure these rights.     

There is another category of citizens who work there; it is about servants at home. Here, we do not have a bilateral document signed, although we have negotiated it and we reached a pretty advanced stage. If we talk about the general legal framework, it implies certain quite clear rigours for the foreign workers from Israel, which we endeavor to bring to the knowledge of our citizens.  

The Israeli legislation envisages that the foreign workers can work about five-six years. After that, they can no longer extend their contracts. There is a floating flow of workers, but we keep in touch with them. The most intense communication was just during the holding of the presidential election. I like that our citizens have this openness to the mission and they feel our openness.  

The legal framework which exists in Israel provides for certain guarantees also for our citizens, but nothing is ever enough and in my dialogue with the authorities, I raise the problems of our citizens directly; I try to get certain facilities, certain new things for our citizens. We often face the situation that certain companies from the State of Israel ignore certain legal provisions or interpret them in one way or another. Then I appeal to the Interior Ministry; they give me official answers and I send these answers to our citizens and they submit them to companies and certain problems are solved and are removed from the agenda.   

MOLDPRES: At a distance of about three decades since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, Israel will open an embassy in Chisinau. Is this decision a proof of the boosting of the relations between the two states?

Alexandr Roitman: The diplomatic relations between Moldova and the State of Israel were established in 1992. The embassy of our country was opened in Tel Aviv in 1994. We are exactly at 30 years since our diplomatic mission was opened. Now, there is this decision by the Israeli authorities to open an embassy in Chisinau. This decision did not appear in vacuum; there were certain actions, discussions and other activities which led to this decision.     

There also the moment that Gideon Sa’ar became foreign affairs minister, with whom we have had cooperation since 2022 and the subject on the opening of the embassy has always been a part of our dialogue. We promoted this desideratum, by explaining our partners that the opening of an embassy will allow both sides to promote the intentions, visions, the cooperation in the fields of mutual interest and there will not be a game only into a single goal, but will be a possibility to diversify this dialogue on behalf of both sides.     

The basic priorities will be established for the next year and among them, we find all sectors, including the military field, in which we want to cooperate with Israel. An important event during the next year represents the bilateral political consultations at the level of state secretaries, which will be held in Chisinau. We expect the signing of the bilateral document in the agriculture sector, which will entail a string of important moments for the producers from Moldova. The other levels deal with medicine, education, IT. Israel is quite active in the field of startups, IT, cyber security. We see how much the artificial intelligence is developing and Israel is a pioneer in this sector.    

In the first ten years, most basic agreements were signed between the two states, which allowed diversifying the relations. In the last period, we have seen a boosting of the relations; more projects were initiated in different spheres.  

Last year, we managed to sign also the agreement on mutual recognition of the driving licences, which is an important step. We signed several memorandums in the medicine field and archive cooperation.   

A priority for me was also the connection between different cities, local public administration. I think that I visited over 15 Israeli settlements interested in cooperating with Moldova and these contacts should be promoted.    

MOLDPRES: Are there sectors of cooperation of mutual interest? Through what can we be attractive for the Israeli market?  

Alexandr Roitman: As for big fields, we are interested in the deepening of the political contacts and this already occurs. Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi discussed with his counterpart Gideon Sa’ar. We maintain contacts at the level of offices of the prime ministers, presidents. President Maia Sandu received a warm congratulation on behalf of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as well as an invitation to pay a state visit. The political contacts are fostering and we want their boosting to lead to tangible results.   

I believe that there are no fields where we cannot learn from each other; there is a mutual exchange. The European standards are deeply implemented in Israel. We have possibility to make an information exchange of know-how and implement the EU’s acquis.  

In the last three years, we have recorded an increase in the commercial exchanges; the volume of export from Moldova is on the rise. Effort is made to diversify our exports and get possibility for new products to appear on the Israeli market. The export permits are got with much difficulty. Our mission provided support to certain companies from Moldova, in order to get on the Israeli market. The presence of our wines is already large. There are economic agents which tapped the Israeli market by themselves, finding a partner on the spot.      

Last year, to supply the need of wheat and wheat products, Israel started buying wheat from Moldova for the first time in the last years.  

The agriculture minister visited Israel; we had a string of contacts, exchange of messages. I had meetings with the agriculture minister of Israel and on the immediately next period, we are expecting the signing of a bilateral document, which will envisage that Moldova will have priority in Israel for the export of its agricultural products – to a great extent, it is about wheat, as well as other products. Israel will provide know-how, experience in the intensive agriculture sector. Israel elaborated these ways and this apparatus, technologies. For its part, Israel will provide also priority in the possibility to buy the newest technologies and instruments of intensifying the agriculture, as well as other elements of cooperation in the agriculture field.    

We want ever more products to reach the Israeli market and this happens. I am happy as consumer and as ambassador that our products have become more qualitative and there is demand for them on the Israel market. Sometimes, the overcoming of the bureaucratic moments can be difficult, but on this occasion too, I say that the mission is willing to help any economic agent which wants to reach the Israeli market. There is a call; we have every openness for our economic agents. We have success stories and entrepreneurs from Moldova can tell about the things which we have achieved together.  

MOLDPRES: Starting from 1 January 2025, new rules of entry in the State of Israel will be implemented. What changes? If a Moldovan wants to go to Israel, what he/she must know?   

Alexandr Roitman: Israel during 2024 wanted to implement the so-called ETA-IL system, which is a system of pre-registration before leaving for the State of Israel. This is a webpage which we published, on which an electronic form appears, where any citizen of Moldova, as well as of other states should register as an eventual traveler to the State of Israel, in order to receive a pre-approval.  

I was saying that this decision should have come in 2024, but following negotiations of Moldova’s Embassy, as well as of the Embassy of Ukraine in Tel Aviv, we managed in this joint front to achieve the postponing of this decision. This decision should have entered into force in the last summer. Now, this decision enters into force as of 1 January 2025.

It is compulsory that any person who comes to Israel should register in this system. I did it for the sake of experience, as the holders of diplomatic passports do not need this registration and the second exception represents the people who have working visas. The latter also do not need registration. The other people, who travel on purpose of business or tourism, need this registration. This is an element of facilitating the corroboration of the information on the people who enter the country. There are such systems in other states too.    

Till 31 December 2024, the registration in this system is for free and I call on the citizens who are set to travel to the State of Israel in the next two or three years to do this, as this is free of charge for the moment. This registration, once made, is valid during two years. Starting from 1 January, this registration will be against payment, equivalent to 120 Moldovan lei; the payment will be made online. The embarkation to airships flying to Israel will be not be possible without the filling in of this registration form.      

MOLDPRES: You wrote a book titled, ‘’The Jews of Bessarabia. Who are they?’’ Did you find the answer to this question? What new information did you discover?  

Alexandr Roitman: I think that I found my answer to this question. But, as far as I understood from those who read this book, each one found his/her answer. Why I have written this book, as the question which is on the cover I received many times from more directions. I had to study many aspects which I did not know, in order to give answer to the questions of those who are interested in these subjects. I was pleasantly surprised by the major interest in this subject on behalf of different spheres, countries, interest groups.  This encourages me to continue these researches. The appearance of this book and my reaction to it confirmed me the fact that that we live in an inclusive society, that the tolerance, coexistence, this ethnic and cultural mixture is what defines us. Due to these ethnic and cultural plasters, we are like this and I believe that the reforms we carry out now, our modernization as country, the society includes this past of our and allows us to get we set to – to modernize, Europeanize the country, to be EU members and to find ourselves where our place is.       

Due to the appearance of this book, I received many messages and requests on behalf of people who were looking for their friends, neighbours. I had possibility to find the people who had left Moldova and live in the State of Israel and we restored the relations between people.   

MOLDPRES: There is another category of the Diaspora; I mean people born in Moldova who emigrated to the State of Israel. Do you keep in touch with these people? 

Alexandr Roitman: These are people with dual citizenship – those who were born and worked in Moldova and emigrated to the State of Israel. We see a major interest in the regaining of Moldova’s citizenship. The number of applications grew exponentially and when I see these citizens who come to the diplomatic mission, they feel nostalgia and I hear only good words about the period they lived in Moldova and I see a clear interest in returning to our country, in visiting it as tourists.

The flow of people between Moldova and the State of Israel has increased very much. Now, we have 17 flights per week; I think that this is one of the most intense air circulation. There are five companies which make regular flights in this direction and the flow of people also increased, which again explains the need to open the Israeli embassy, as well as completes the general landscape of the development of our relations. So, if there is human interest, this means that the things are on the right way.  

MOLDPRES: Your Excellency, we thank you for willingness to give us this interview.  

Author: Cornelia Stefoglu