The unrest in Ukraine has prompted a huge increase in Jewish emigration to Israel.

According to Jewish Agency figures, 375 news immigrants arrived between January and the end of March, compared with 221 in the same period last year, a rise of 70 per cent.

More than 100 of the immigrants have arrived from Odessa, the Ukrainian Black Sea city where nearly 30,000 Jews live.

“The immigrants’ choice to come to Israel on the eve of Passover and build their home and their children’s future has symbolic meaning,” Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky said.