In a letter sent to the Minister of the Interior, the Ministry of Health confirms that for them there is no impediment to opening the border crossing to Israelis - but subject to 14 days of isolation for returnees

• The beaches in Sinai will not be opened to Israelis soon

  Photo: 

  Eitan Mizrahi

The head of the public health services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price, sent a letter to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri this evening (Sunday) in which she confirmed that the ministry has no impediment to opening the southern border crossing to Israeli passengers, subject to returnees . 

Now, the issue is in the hands of Deri, who is expected to hold a meeting tomorrow with senior officials of the Population and Immigration Authority, with the aim of deciding on the reopening of the border, which was closed in March 2020, due to the outbreak of the corona virus. 

A letter sent from the Ministry of Health reads: "Sinai is divided into two parts, northern and southern. On the southern part, where the beaches and tourists are concentrated, the administration has declared the area" free of corona ". In practice, the cases reported there are few, and they are geographically dispersed. "Egypt's diagnosis and underreporting. Externally, the Egyptian government broadcasts strict enforcement of anti - contagion procedures. However, it is not known exactly what the situation is, but it is clear that the administration wants to keep these sites clean because it is an important source of income."

In a discussion held about two weeks ago at the Ministry of Health and Tourism, the participants also addressed the issue of Israeli tourism in the Sinai Peninsula. Ministry of Health officials clarified that the number of tests in Egypt is low and the number of infected is high, so a vacation in Sinai is out of the question. Apparently the possibility of a summer vacation in Sinai is not close. Now, as mentioned, they have backed down from the decision.