Skip to main content

Israeli prime minister cracks down after pilgrims falsify test results

New rules will be enforced after some Israelis with COVID-19 returned to the country from Ukraine using forged negative test results.
Orthodox pilgrims at airport

Israel’s prime minister is cracking down on people entering the country with COVID-19 after some infected Rosh Hashanah pilgrims used phony test results. 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s directives followed Israeli media reports that dozens of COVID-positive people flew back to Israel on Thursday from Uman, Ukraine, using fake negative test results. Every Jewish new year, thousands of Hasidic Jews go to the Eastern European city to visit the grave of the influential Rabbi Nachman. Bennett’s statement specifically referenced the travelers from Uman. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.