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Bennett will promote in the cabinet the closure of the country for the entry of foreigners, Horowitz opposes

The prime minister claimed in consultations with corona cabinet ministers that closing Israel's gates would reduce the entry of the South African variant.

The Minister of Health opposes the move, claiming that it will cause severe economic damage to the economy.

Shaked and Michaeli support

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• Corona

• Naftali Bennett

• Nitzan Horowitz

Lightning Ravid

Friday, 26 November 2021, 17:47 Updated: 18:15

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In the video: a trip by the Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, and the Minister of Health, Nitzan Horowitz (Photo: GPO)

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is considering closing the entrance to Israel to foreigners in order to try and reduce the entry of the new variant, Walla!

Senior Israeli officials.

Health Minister Horowitz opposes the move, arguing that closing the country en masse would cause severe economic damage to the economy.

The decision on the matter will be made tomorrow (Saturday) at the Corona Cabinet hearing.

During a consultation held Friday afternoon with a group of ministers and senior health officials, Bennett said he believes the country should be completely closed to foreign entry to try and reduce the entry of the new variant.

Bennett said at the hearing that rapid steps should be taken to halt the new variant as a lesson from the entry of the Delta variant into Israel, so the government did not act quickly enough.

More on Walla!

Most African countries have been defined as red;

Bennett: "Preparing for a Stricter Scenario"

To the full article

Interested in completely closing the entry of foreigners into Israel.

Bennett (Photo: Paul, Moti Millrod)

More on Walla!

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Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Economy Minister Orna Barbibai, Homeland Security Minister Omar Bar-Lev, Transportation Minister Meirav Michaeli and Culture Minister Hili Trooper expressed support for Bennett's approach during the consultation regarding quick measures and closing the entrance to foreigners.

Tourism Minister Yoel Rezbozov objected, arguing that closure would lead to a fatal blow to tourism.

He and Horowitz noted that 3,000 tourists and about 30,000 Israelis enter Israel every day.

Thus, preventing the entry of tourists will not dramatically reduce the entry of the variant and will only harm the economy and connection with world Jewry.

Sources in the Ministry of Health said that ahead of the cabinet meeting on Saturday night there will be consultations to find a compromise formula.

Claims the closure will hurt the economy.

Horowitz (Photo: Walla !, screenshot)

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman did not attend the consultation despite being invited.

The Minister of Finance, Hemed Amer, also did not attend.

Finance Ministry Director General Ram Belnikov said at the hearing that Lieberman is "not available" and asked to wait with decisions concerning that he will return to availability. Belnikov noted that the closure of state foreign entry would require compensation to airlines and other factors, and currently there is no Ministry of Finance budget reserve to do so.

During The consultation convened by Bennett said senior Ministry of Health officials said it was not yet clear whether the vaccine was effective against the new variant and concerns were raised that one of the four carriers detected in Israel had been vaccinated with three doses and was still infected. Only of data collection.

Fears of harm to tourism.

Rezbozov (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Countries in Africa have already been marked as red

The government decided today that African countries, with the exception of the northern countries of the continent, will be defined as red and the entry of foreigners from them will be banned.

This follows three cases of the South African variant in Israel.

It was also decided that the Home Front Command would locate all Israelis and tourists who came from Africa in the past week, and instruct them to remain in isolation immediately, while at the same time conducting home sampling.

Anyone who has stayed in African countries, even if he did not come to Israel directly from it, will be called to immediately undergo a PCR test, after which he will go into isolation until a result is obtained.

According to Bennett, there is a certain case of verified zen in the country and three other suspicious cases that are currently being investigated.

"The State of Israel is waking up for the first time in the world," he said.

"All headquarters are prepared and open and we do not take risks. It is better to act quickly and decisively, before Israel is inundated with the nation and turns red. The actions will have an economic price. We are aware of this and will help those who are harmed as needed."

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