Ben Gurion Airport is hermetically sealed: what is allowed and what is forbidden? Questions and Answers | Israel Today

Entry and departure to Israel will be closed from tonight until the end of the closure • And yet, there are some exceptions where it will still be possible to board a plane • So what do you do in case of a wedding or funeral, and who will refund the money for a canceled flight?

Ben-Gurion Airport is expected to close to takeoffs and landings of passenger flights as early as midnight tonight.

Following the decision, there are quite a few unresolved questions that many Israelis are trying to get answers to.

To make some order in the rush, we have collected the most common questions ahead of closing the country gates for at least five days.

Archive // ​​Photo: Shimon Yaish

If I am abroad, how can I return to Israel? It

seems that foreign airlines will not fly to Israel in the next two weeks. There will probably be exceptions for Israeli airlines, to meet urgent needs. Israeli airlines will work on a very limited basis. Currently there are hundreds of immigrants. Who are waiting to immigrate to Israel and were supposed to arrive in the coming days. Also, there are many Israelis who were supposed to return from Dubai, the USA and other destinations.

If I have medical treatment abroad, am I allowed to fly?

Yes. It is allowed to fly abroad for medical treatment.

Who will refund me for the canceled flight?

By law, if a flight does not take off, the airline is obligated to return the passengers the money in full.

In any case, check the terms of your order, if your order is included in the Consumer Protection Law and what rights you are entitled to.

What do I do if I booked a plane ticket before the decision?

In this case, unlike the previous decisions in previous closures, no matter when you booked the ticket, the decision prohibits departure from the country by flight, except in exceptional cases.

There is no connection to the date of booking the flight ticket.

I got vaccinated and I have a green passport, does that mean I can enter a country that considers Israel red?

Both the vaccinated and the recovering are included in the decision.

Some countries have already stated that they will get vaccinated, some are already doing so in practice and some will do so in the coming weeks.

The decision to close the airport is valid for both the vaccinated and the recovering.

What to do in case of a wedding or funeral abroad?

Wedding is not included in the list of exceptional cases that will be approved for the flight. It will be allowed to fly for the funeral of a close friend or family member. Travel of a vital employee or legal proceedings will also be considered approved exceptional cases. Transportation have reserved the right to approve further exceptional cases.

Will the green passport for the vaccinated also be valid in foreign countries?

The green passport will not be valid in foreign countries at this time.

There are already a few countries that have declared that they will get vaccinated, other than Seychelles, but none of those countries have yet started to implement it in practice and it is likely that this will happen already in the coming weeks.

If there are no surprises, the professionals' estimates are that as early as this spring we will see a series of countries that allow the vaccinated to enter their territory.

How do I get to the Exceptions Committee?

It is necessary to contact the Ministry of Transportation, where they will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and special permits may also be given to those who are not included in the pre-defined list of exceptional cases.

How long will the skies of the State of Israel be closed?

The decision is currently valid for only five days, but it is likely that its validity will be extended later.