Dovster

The border is open now for Israeli citizens but not for others. It is not a question of how much of the Israeli population is fully vaccinated but rather what percentage of a particular country is.

M60_to_LGA

What's your guess as to when the border will be open for US citizens? I'm now fully vaccinated as of Friday, and I'm planning on being in Israel as of the last week of July. I assume that should be sababa, right? Do you have any reason to think differently based on what you're hearing on the ground?

Dovster

I honestly have no idea. Right now, despite what the law says, even non-Israelis with humanitarian needs (such as visiting a 95-year-old mother or attending a child's wedding) are not being allowed to enter the country.

Alpha Golf

Another one hoping it will open soon to vaccinated Americans.

I have a wedding to attend and family to visit!

hnussbacher

Olim stage protest outside Knesset against restrictions on family entry

https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/olim-stage-protest-outside-knesset-against-restrictions-on-family-entry-664155

hnussbacher

I just bought tiks for family to come from Germany on July 14. Just need to have patience and see what plays out.

Dovster

It was announced today that if a foreigner has a very close relative in Israel (immediate family) he can enter the country upon providing proof of having been immunized.

https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/family-...-israel-664270

N830MH

Thanks for sharing this! I appreciate that.

I hope we will visit Israel again sometime in the future. If they open the borders. If they ever to relax restrictions. All non-Israeli citizen will allowed visit Israel. If they are always welcome to come.

hnussbacher

Start forming your tourist groups:
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/...-in-may-665006

craz

I highly doubt that any new so called group will be let in. Instead they will let the groups that have been established and had various tours thru the years back in. For now at least.

RedChili

I've visited Israel more than 40 times, and I've even been a tour leader for a few smaller groups. But I'm sorry to say that with these rules, you can forget about incoming tourism. The demands are simply too restrictive: 1) Vaccine. 2) Being part of a group. 3) PCR test before boarding. 4) PCR test on arrival. 5) Serological test on arrival.

You also have to add the general problems of tourism in the covid world, such as: 1) Widespread unemployment among prospective travelers. 2) Widespread cancellations of flights. 3) Invalid travel insurances. 4) Ever changing transfer and entry rules. 5) The prospect of a quarantine when returning home. 6) The discomfort of traveling with a face mask. 7) The possibility of needing a new PCR test for your flight back home.

All taken together, I believe you'll be able to count on one hand the number of tourist groups that will visit. It reminds me of how Thailand "opened" up for tourism a few months ago.

Unfortunately, it's two years since I was in Israel, and I'd love to bring my family there again, even this summer. But under the circumstances, I'd rather choose Croatia, Turkey, Dubai, Mexico or some other country where I can enter quite freely and rent a car. I really hope that Israel will open for real before the summer of 2022. I know a lot of others that want to visit, too, but not under these circumstances.

Alpha Golf

I'm guessing it's for Birthright.

Calculated Risk

I think you'll be proven to be wrong.
People have been saving - nothing to spend on since retail has been closed and not holidays for past 12 months.
The government has increased the money supply by over 25% in the various forms including furlough.
people are desperate to visit family.etc.
I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 5 flights per day (LON-TLV) by mid May - ElAl, BA, Virgin, Easyjet, Wizz, Arkia. and possibly others.

RedChili

Will people who are desperate to visit their family in Ashdod join a tour group with seven full days of touring in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Galilee? The JPost article said that they chose tour groups because "they are easier to monitor," meaning that they won't allow the participants to leave the group. You'll have to stick to the group, meaning Mt of Olives, Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Masada, Ein Gedi, Tel Dan, Zafed, etc. There won't be any time for seeing your family.

There may be flights, but it won't be incoming tour groups on those flights.

Alpha Golf

Why I'm thinking it's for Birthright. I think they're required to stay with group at all times.