Tourist Entry SHUTDOWN into Israel for 2 weeks as of Sunday midnight.

In an overnight decision, the cabinet has decided to HALT ENTRY of all non-citizens / non-residents for 2 weeks, effective Sunday midnight.  Here’s a summary of the decisions (nicely done by Jpost)…

1 - There is a ban on 50 countries within the African continent. Israelis cannot travel to these countries without special permission. Doing so is subject to a fine of up to NIS 5,000.

2 - No foreigner (from ANY country) can enter Israel without special permission from the country’s Exceptions Committee.

3 - Israelis who are fully vaccinated or recovered according to the Health Ministry's definition and are not entering Israel from a banned country will be asked to perform a PCR test at the airport and then enter home Quarantine. Subject to a second negative PCR test on day three, they may be released from quarantine. If they do not take the PCR test, they will be required to stay in isolation for a full week. 

4 - Unvaccinated Israelis will perform a PCR test upon landing in Israel, after which they will enter home quarantine. Subject to a second negative PCR test on day seven, they will be able to be released from quarantine. Those who do not perform a test on day seven, will need to stay in quarantine for 14 days.

5 - Israelis who return from red countries will perform a PCR test at the airport and then be transferred to quarantine in one of the country’s coronavirus hotels until a negative result is received. After that, they must complete seven days of quarantine at home. They may leave quarantine only when a second negative result is received.

6 - Individuals who leave quarantine without taking a PCR test will be fined.

7 - The Home Front Command will work to locate anyone who arrived in Israel from a red country in the last week and test them for the virus.

8 - The Shin Bet General Security Agency will re-launch its surveillance program for anyone who tests positive upon return to Israel from a banned African country to help find anyone with whom they were in contact and cut off the chains of infection.

9 - Green Pass will be required for all events of 50 or more people - instead of 100 or more people as it was before.

10 - Hanukkah events will go on as planned under the Green Pass outline.

As previously mentioned, Israel has decided to HALT ENTRY of all non-citizens / non-residents for 2 weeks, effective Sunday midnight - for 14 days (initially).  Here’s questions we’re getting…

-> What about Student Visa’s?  “Foreign residents of Israel who find themselves abroad at this time should consider hastening their return to Israel.  And foreign residents who were intending to travel abroad for Chanuka may wish to reconsider their plans.” (Chaim v’Chessed student visa services)

-> What if I’m in flight and arrive after midnight (with a student visa or other entry permit)?  “It is unknown if those in the air, en route to Israel at the time the ban takes effect will be permitted to enter Israel.”

-> What if I already have an entry permit?  “It is unclear if those holding Entry Permits will be allowed to travel to Israel once the ban takes effect.”

-> What about what were previously permitted exceptions, like coming to visit new grandchild? Attend a funeral or wedding?  At the moment only “humanitarian and vital” exceptions have been mentioned.  

ANALYSIS:  I suspect in a few days these details will be worked out, and student visa holders will likely be allowed entry as long as they are not coming from a RED country and likely requiring full quarantine..  If this border lockdown continues more than 2 weeks, I suspect the previous exceptions will be allowed, again as long as not from a RED country and likely requiring full quarantine.  

This is the Israeli pattern:  react quickly, work out the details along the way, maybe a slight sorry about the massive disruption.

- Israel POSSIBLE case count up to 13...  One arrived from Malawi, and two from Jordan and the UAE. In addition, two of the suspected patients had received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine and two received the Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca jabs.  Three additional people who may have been infected, had not traveled abroad recently.  

- A special Knesset hearing to discuss restrictions on relatives of Israeli citizens who wish to travel to Israel will take place on Tuesday.  That student visa holders who were outside the country are also in limbo is specifically mentioned.

- IDF reports 38 new (normal Corona likely Delta) cases, a new low since the Delta wave started and a good indication of Corona levels among adults.

- Horrible Circumstances, Poor Handling, Idiotic Officials - Several foreigners arriving from South Africa on Friday were blocked from entering the country, after the government introduced new measures to curb the spread of Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant. Among them were visitors who had come to pay their respects to the family of Eliyahu David Kay, who was murdered in a Jerusalem terror attack last week. The two, along with three others, had departed from South Africa before the new restrictions banning foreign visitors from much of Africa were announced Thursday night. All five, who were Jewish, were forced to leave on a flight on Friday that forced them violate Shabbat, despite pleading with officials to allow them to stay until after the holy day.  The passengers were “treated like we were criminals. We asked questions and they shouted at us to shut up and not ask questions. I told them I couldn’t desecrate Shabbat and they told me I’d be arrested if I didn’t board the plane. I didn’t eat for 24 hours and for the first time in my life I desecrated Shabbat.”

- The Green Pass will, due to Omicron, be applied in closed spaces in which there are gatherings with over 50 participants (as opposed to the current 100.