Cabinet extends closure of Ben Gurion airport
The ban on commercial flights has been extended to February 21 but rescue flights will be arranged for some of the Israelis stranded in Europe, the US and Dubai.
Israel s cabinet has approved the extension of the closure of Ben Gurion airport to commercial flights until February 21. The airport was closed on January 26, due to fears that the gains from Israel s swift vaccination rollout would be compromised by the introduction of new Covid variants from abroad that were resistant to the vaccine.
Israelis wishing to return home must prove that their permanent residence is in the country and that they left the country legally in accordance with Ministry of Health instructions prevailing at the time. Approval from an exemptions committee must be obtained, with online forms available on the websites of Israel s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Prime Minister s Office and Ministry of Interior s Population and Immigration Aut