Israeli Politician Urges Government to Help Yandex Move to Tel Aviv

In a letter sent to the prime minister, Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman urges the government to help Russian tech giant Yandex transfer hundreds of its employees to Israel.

If we want to be a major player in the high-tech world, we must strengthen international activity. This is a one-time opportunity.

Lieberman is the leader of “Yisrael Beiteinu”, an Israeli party that relies on the migrants from former USSR republics. According to Israeli media, the letter he sent was written by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Orit Farkash HaCohen, as well as Yandex co-founder Arkady Volozh.

In the letter Lieberman emphasizes the benefits Yandex employees can bring Israeli high tech sector.

A 17.7% annual decline in high-tech exports cannot be ignored. If we want to be a major player in the high-tech world, we must strengthen international activity.

Lieberman urgently seeks to convene a meeting with Prime Minister Bennett along with the other ministries "to seize the one-time opportunity." No date has yet been set for a discussion on the issue.

Recently we reported, that discussions between Yandex and Israeli government have been stalled due to the differences between Israeli ministries.

Yandex, however, is not the only company asking to ease resctristion on foreign workers. A number of Israeli high-tech companies that employ thousands of workers in Ukraine also want to make it easier for workers from Ukraine and Russia to come to Israel. They fear employees may flee to other countries, such as Turkey and Poland.