No checks on entry into the country and with the easing of the isolation obligation - while the State of Israel is at the height of the third closure, entry to it is still uncontrolled • The Ministry of Transportation accuses: "Legal advice blocks us" • Ministry of Health: "Tests are limited"
Ben Gurion Airport default:
Over the past few months, many have wondered why the landings at Ben Gurion Airport are not inspected, and why there is no condition that requires checks before arriving in Israel, like many countries that have been operating in this way for many months.
Almost a year since the outbreak of the plague in Israel, it is now understandable that Ben Gurion Airport was one of the main sources for its spread, although in practice this could have been minimized through simple steps that we have already written about a lot.
Loads and shouts in queues for corona tests at Ben Gurion Airport
Now, following the fear of the mutations, various government officials are pushing to close the airport, and not allow Israelis to leave the country without a special reason or an exceptional permit.
An inspection we conducted shows that it is almost impossible to find countries that have completely closed airports at a level that did not allow entry and exit.
However, in many countries strict measures have been taken to prevent the entry of disease from other countries, and among the measures are of course testing and isolation requirements.
On a tour of the airport yesterday one could see the terminal areas being completely empty, just as we were used to seeing in the days of the first closure at the beginning of the plague.
The take-off and landing schedule is very sparse, and the only flight that arrived from Dubai yesterday landed a little before midnight.
In a conversation with a security guard who asked us not to mention his name, he says: "We were afraid to work here throughout the period because they did not demand checks from the passengers. Now we hope there will be order in this matter and we can work safely, but why want to close Ben Gurion Airport completely?
We will not have a job.
What is the problem that vaccinated, recovering or people who have been tested can fly? "
The test complex of check2fly - an advanced testing system that since yesterday also allows for quick tests with results obtained within four hours - was completely deserted.
Now that they understand the importance of the obligation to inspect returnees from abroad, there is an exchange of accusations between various elements in the political system.
"Unfortunately, all along the way legal advisers have said we have no authority to oblige citizens to carry out tests, which has forced us to produce other solutions."
A statement issued by Bnei Gantz said the attorney general had denied the transport minister's remarks, and that the issue was only brought up for consideration last week.
"This is a condition for the continued closure," he wrote.
"How do we get out of this?"
In a conversation with a senior official at one of the major airlines, he talks about the great damage done to the industry: "We employed 400 workers and today we are about ten. What they did here is excessive and does not happen in any country in the world. We do not know how we will wake up from this thing. Duty to check. The thought of closing Ben Gurion Airport is simply delusional.
Kobi Karni, Chairman of the Association of Travel Agencies: "The State of Israel with one entrance gate to the world should have been the pioneering force of inspections of those entering its gates.
For more than half a year we have been calling for a system of tests to be launched for those landing in Israel.
It has been several months since the laboratories arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, and since then they have stood almost like an irreversible stone. They maintained public health, inspected the landers and left Ben Gurion Airport open. "
Currently, all returnees to Israel are required to be isolated in a motel.
Those who agree to perform a corona test at the entrance to the country are released for home isolation, with the exception of returnees from Brazil, South Africa, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates, who are required to be isolated in a motel in any case.
The Ministry of Health is interested in adding more countries to the list.
In December, some 66,000 Israelis visited Dubai, and several Corona carriers who arrived in Dubai carrying the South African mutation were recently discovered.
The ministry added: "Isolation is the most effective means of preventing illness from returning from abroad.
In light of the prevalence of variants of the virus, it was decided to recommend adding tests on landing and before boarding, along with the obligation to isolate.
It is important to note that the effectiveness of the tests is limited and that even those who came out negative in all the tests, upon entering Israel, may be ill and required full isolation. "