“The Prime Minister and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, Interior, Tourism and Transport have decided that from Sunday, January 9, 2022, foreigners vaccinated against coronavirus or who have had covid, according to the definition of the Israeli Ministry of Health, from countries on the orange list (not included in the red list for the threat of the spread of coronavirus – approx. TASS) will be able to obtain an entry permit provided they fill out an online form beforehand, pass a PCR test or an antigen test before boarding the plane, as well as pass a PCR test upon entry into Israel, followed by isolation for 24 hours or until they receive a negative PCR test,” the press service of the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
“For permission to enter [Israel] vaccinated with Sputnik V [tourists], the Israeli Ministry of Health is waiting for the publication of official results of a study on the effectiveness of this vaccine against the omicron strain,” a government source explained to TASS.
The press service of the Ministry of Health indicated that “foreigners who have not been vaccinated and have not been ill in accordance with the definition of the Ministry of Health will not be allowed to enter Israel.”
In addition, tourists from countries included in the red list will not be able to enter the territory of the Jewish state without obtaining permission from the commission for exceptional cases, the ministry added.
Recommendations of the Commission
The Commission of the Ministry of Health on Monday also recommended that the Government of Israel exclude South Africa, Hungary, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal, France and Canada. The UAE, the United States, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Mexico, Switzerland and Turkey are also in the group of countries that are dangerous from the point of view of the threat of the spread of coronavirus at the moment, in addition to these seven countries, the press service said.
From March 2020 to November 2021, Israel was completely closed to foreigners. Entry into the country was only possible for returning Israelis. Since May, as part of the pilot program, organized foreign tourist groups fully vaccinated with drugs approved in the United States have been allowed into the country.
On November 1, Israel opened its borders to foreign tourists vaccinated with WHO-approved drugs, subject to a number of conditions for the number of vaccines and boosters received. On November 15, Israel officially recognized the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and the opening of the borders of the Jewish state for Russian tourists was scheduled for December 1. But since November 29, Israel has again closed its borders to foreign citizens due to the spread of the omicron strain of coronavirus.