Vernikov Filling the Void as State Department Leaves Americans Stranded in Israel

NEW YORK – A local City Council member is taking the federal government to task, calling the State Department out on its failure to evacuate American citizens who are stranded in Israel.

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said that she and her staff have been inundated by requests for help after posting an offer on social media to help constituents leave Israel on October 8th. While she expected to hear from a handful of people, Vernikov found herself flooded with pleas for assistance and has heard from an estimated 2,500 people since her post went live two days ago.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook and we were here yesterday working on Columbus Day, a national holiday when we were supposed to be closed, with four members of my staff coming in on their day off,” Vernikov told VIN News. “People are filling out the State Department form and they get a confirmation, but no one is calling them back and they don’t know what to do.”

In addition to hearing from her constituents in the 48th District who are unable to leave Israel, Vernikov has also been hearing from people living as far away as Florida and Chicago.

“We are a local office and are supposed to be dealing with things like potholes,” observed Vernikov. “The fact that people from other states are calling me, a local council member, means that they have no place to go.”

While the United States has so far left its citizens in Israel to manage on their own, Vernikov noted that other countries have stepped up to evacuate their residents from Israel. A graphic put out by Vernikov’s office shows how other countries are bringing their people home with numbers from Hungary, Albania, North Macedonia, Cambodia, Mexico and Thailand standing in stark contrast to the United States’ grand total of zero citizens brought home. Vernikov categorized that reality as “an atrocity.”

“The war started on Sunday morning and it is now Tuesday and still nothing,” said Vernikov.

Vernikov credited both New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for their efforts to try to help area residents and has been working closely with Representatives Nicole Malliotakis and Grace Meng at the congressional level as well. She posted a copy of a letter sent by the Council’s Jewish Caucus on October 9th to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on social media, calling on the federal government to send charter flights to bring the hundreds of American citizens who have contacted her back from Israel.

“Stranded in a war zone, under a barrage of rocket fire and uncertainty about what’s to come, they are pleading for their lives,” wrote the Councilmembers. “We must get them out and we must do it now.”

Approaching the issue from another angle, Vernikov also asked Americans in Israel who have booked tickets home on multiple airlines to cancel their extra flights.

“I am hearing that people are double and triple booking and planes have gone back with dozens of empty seats,” said Vernikov. “People really need to be considerate of others trying to get back, so if you are confirmed on one flight, please cancel the others so other people can get home.”

Despite being frustrated by the State Department’s inaction, Vernikov is committed to continuing her efforts to help stranded Americans and vowed to work side by side with electeds of both sides of the aisle. And while Vernikov is Jewish, she is adamant that the problem at hand is one that should be clear to all.

“One of my staffers asked me ‘Isn’t this the job of the federal government?’” shared Vernikov. “Our constituents are stuck in a war zone. Half of the people who were here in my office yesterday, they aren’t Jewish, but they understand, and they see what is happening.”

As of this writing, Vernikov is still waiting for a promised return call from the State Department, following up on a conversation that took place earlier this morning.

“They are aware that I represent a large number of Jews stuck in Israel right now,” said Vernikov. “They are telling me they will work with me. I am waiting for information – they say they are in crisis mode and are organizing something, but right now at this moment, I have no information to give people about any plans or any charter flights being organized.”