Travel Warning to Six European Countries

Corona panic in Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Nadav Abs, Hagai Dekel)

The Foreign Ministry issued a new campaign warning on Thursday about the spread of the Corona virus. In warning, the public recommended that travel should be considered for six European countries: Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Austria. Foreign diplomats claim that Israel is taking extreme steps.

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“Recommend that you consider the necessity of travel.” Passengers at Ben Gurion Airport(Photo: Ido Erez)

The Foreign Ministry warning reads: “Due to the spread of the Corona virus in European countries, anyone planning a trip to Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Austria recommends that it consider its necessity at the present time and to keep abreast of local authority guidelines in these countries regarding preventive behavior. Because the Israeli embassies in these countries continue to operate. ”

In addition, the Foreign Ministry instructed all embassies in the world that any person – an employee or spouse – who comes from a risky state be required to enter isolation and refrain from attending the embassy for 14 days. This will be considered a chemical without any medical form.

Corona testing at Ben Gurion Airport(Photo: Shaul Golan)

(Photo: Moti Kimhi)

Earlier today, the Foreign Office held an urgent briefing on how to deal with the Corona virus. About 50 foreign ambassadors and diplomats were invited to the briefing, representatives of the various countries. Foreign diplomats attending the briefing said that “Israel has taken too extreme steps against the Corona without consulting and coordinating with the various countries. This is contrary to the World Health Organization’s recommendations not to interfere with cross-border movement.”

Diplomats from the Chinese Embassy were absent from the incident. However, there was a respectable representation of diplomats from other Asian countries, including Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, Vietnam and Myanmar. Many European diplomats came to the briefing and raised a series of questions, indicating that there is a lot of confusion at the embassies in the face of the Ministry of Health guidelines that are changing new for mornings.

Foreign Ministry Director General Yuval Rotem, Head of Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Health, participated in the briefing. Dr. Asher Salomon, Director of the Population and Immigration Authority Shlomo Mor Yosef and Director of the Ministry of Tourism Amir Halevi. Dr. Salomon said “Israeli policy is inclusive and preventive.” He added: “We apologize for the rigorous steps we have taken when it comes to traveling abroad and arriving in the country. It’s critical to deal with the problem. ”

The Spanish ambassador asked if tourists could stay in isolation in Israel or in the territories. Salomon responded that “foreign nationals residing here such as diplomats, students and workers, as long as they have a permanent address, they can enter Israel. This is more complicated than a week-long tourist.”

As an example, Moore Joseph gave a special permit to an Italian citizen living in Israel to bring her family to attend her wedding. “We also gave businessmen permission to come after the embassies pledged to take care of the isolation. It’s not black or white. We try to be considerate. We allowed the Chinese ambassador to enter the country and he was two weeks in isolation.”