Israel ends restrictions on international travel

Israel has decided to end its virus-related travel restrictions. 

The Israeli Health Ministry announced today that all travel bans on “red list” countries will be lifted as of tomorrow. This means anyone with a valid visa can now fly to Israel from anywhere. Israelis can also now travel abroad without special permission. Foreigners entering Israel will still need to provide proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, Israeli media outlets reported. 

The move comes as Israel is experiencing a historically high number of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads throughout the world. Israel reported a record 16,115 coronavirus infections today. However, daily deaths related to the virus remain next to zero in the country. 

Travelers from several notable countries can now enter Israel again, including Turkey and the United States. 

The lifting of the travel bans is in line with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s vision for COVID-19 policy. Bennett has spoken out against lockdowns and in favor of mass testing and vaccine booster shots as a means of fighting the virus.