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Israeli Government Prolongs Travel Ban Due to High Risk of Coronavirus in Other Countries

May 29, 2021

The relevant authorities in the State of Israel have decided to extend its already existing ban on the travel of its citizens to seven countries that are considered to be high-risk at the moment. The coronavirus-related travel ban is now going to be lifted on the 13th of June amidst ongoing concerns regarding the variants of the deadly disease in these seven countries. 

As per the directive, the citizens of the country have been prohibited from traveling to Ethiopia, Brazil, Mexico, India, Ukraine, Turkey, and South Africa. From the 31st of May, Argentina and Russia are also going to be added to this list of countries that are banned. 

However, if a citizen does wish to travel to any of these locations, they will have to acquire special permission from the relevant authorities delegated with this responsibility. Special permission will only be granted in exceptional cases, for example for humanitarian purposes. 

Israelis have further been granted permission to take connecting flights that pass through these countries, given that the layover is no more than 12 hours. All citizens returning from these locations, even those who have received the jab against the novel coronavirus, will be required to isolate themselves for a period of 14 days. However, the period of isolation can be shortened by four days, given that the patient has two negative tests of the disease. 

With international travel restrictions in place, a limited number of foreign tourists, who had been vaccinated, started to enter Israel from the 23rd of May. The borders of the Jewish state had been closed to foreigners since March of 2020. Initially, only organized groups of foreign tourists were granted permission to enter. However, authorities are currently planning to permit international individual travelers soon enough, keeping the epidemiological conditions in mind. 

The tourists entering the State of Israel will have to take a serological test to provide proof that they have coronavirus antibodies present. As of now, the authorities in the country are looking to negotiate with various other countries to come upon a mutual decision and recognize vaccination certificates. This will help remove the requirement for serological tests. Until further notice, however, this requirement will continue to be enforced. 

Foreign tourists who have been fully inoculated against the deadly disease or recovered from the virus and have direct relatives in Israel have been granted permission to enter. These individuals will still have to submit a request to the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel and receive permission to enter prior to boarding their flight. They must also provide proof of recovery or vaccination, along with evidence that they are related to a citizen of Israel. 

Those foreign tourists who have not yet been vaccinated against the deadly contagion or recovered from it can enter Israel amidst special circumstances. This includes marriage to a citizen of Israel. All foreigners, even those who have been given the jab, have to necessarily isolate themselves for a period of 14 days, as soon as they enter the country. 

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