Israel banning travel to US over Covid-19 Omicron concerns
- Rare move to red-list the United States comes amid rising infections in Israel
- Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says Israel in midst of Covid-19 fifth wave
Israel on Monday added the United States to its “no-fly” list, citing concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.
Under the edict, which goes into effect on Wednesday, Israelis would need special permission to fly to the United States and Canada, now among more than 50 countries to which its citizens cannot travel.
Israel has seen a surge in new cases of the more infectious coronavirus variant in recent weeks, and began closing its borders and restricting travel in late November.
Other countries that were approved to be added to the travel ban are Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey.
Barring US travel for Israeli citizens and residents marks a significant step for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government, given the hundreds of thousands of dual nationals and close ties between the countries.
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Bennett said Israel was in the midst of its fifth wave of Covid-19.
“The Omicron variant is already here,” he told a press conference on Sunday after a cabinet meeting, “and it’s spreading fast”.
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He said Israel had gained “precious time” by curbing travel immediately after the Omicron variant was detected in South Africa last month.
“European countries are either in lockdown or are heading that way,” he said, stressing that for Israel “time is running out”.
Israeli citizens and residents who are already abroad when a country is declared red must quarantine for a week after returning home.
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Non-resident foreigners from all countries are barred from entry unless they have special permission.
Bennett called on Israelis to work from home and encouraged parents to vaccinate their children.
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters
