Vaccinated tourists may be allowed in Israel from November, US may be left out

• Author: MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
• Published date: 09 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"The intention is by the start of November to allow full entry to tourists who meet our requirements for being fully vaccinated," Ash said. "Anyone would be able to come in. There would no longer be any special committees or anything. They would buy a ticket and enter if they meet the criteria."

He said the final details of the outline are still being decided and an announcement is expected as early as this coming week.

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The definition of fully vaccinated as it currently stands in Israel applies to people who were vaccinated with two shots in the last six months or who were double vaccinated before that but have received a booster dose. Individuals who had the virus within the last six months or who had it before that and received one booster shot would also meet the criteria.

Non-Israelis have effectively been banned from entering the country over the last 18 months in an effort to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Only since April 2021 have entry permits been granted to first-degree relatives of people living in Israel. But even then, the process of entry was complicated and convoluted, and many struggled to get permission to come.

To prove that they are fully vaccinated, travelers with digital vaccination certificates or "green passports" would be scanned and verified at the airport, Ash said.

Last month, the Health and Foreign ministries announced that the country had joined the European Union's digital COVID certificate program. This coronavirus travel program is meant to enable vaccinated and recovered Israelis to travel to EU member states and other countries that are members of the program and have their certificate recognized by their country of destination. At the same time, travelers from member countries would have their vaccination and recovery certificates recognized in Israel.

Some 40 countries are part of the consortium and there are, of course, other countries that offer digitally verifiable vaccine certificates as well. However, one country that generally does not do so is the United States.

In other words, if the new outline would require a digital vaccination certificate, most Americans would not be eligible to enter Israel freely.

"We have not decided from exactly which countries tourism will be allowed," Ash said, "but in general, at least in the first phase, we are recommending that only those who have...