Israelites leave for Egypt: Long queues were recorded in the transit to the Sinai Peninsula Israel today

Now it's official:

after quite a bit of bureaucracy, the first flight to Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai took off this morning from Ben Gurion Airport.

The first company to operate the flight to a destination that seemed particularly attractive to Israelis was El Al.

Later in the day and in the coming days, Israir, Arkia and the Egyptian airline are also expected to operate direct flights to Sharm.

First flight to Sinai from Ben Gurion Airport, Photo: Yonatan Shaul

Israeli airlines have been approved to operate 9 weekly flights for all of them together, 3 for each.

At first they reported the intention to operate about 15 flights a week each, but the authorities allowed them, as mentioned, to operate only about one-fifth of that number.

The first flight to Sharm el-Sheikh

Gal Gershon, CEO of Sun Dor, which is owned by El Al and will operate the flights to Sharm, said this morning: Only one flight.

This is the first of several attractive and surprising holiday destinations that will be marketed for the upcoming summer season. "

Sun Dor flight to Sharm el-Sheikh, Photo: Yonatan Shaul

Also on foot

The Israelis are also flooding Sinai through the Taba crossing, where this morning extra-long columns were recorded that stretch for more than half a kilometer.

According to today's estimates, on the first day of the week, about 5,000 Israelis left for the Sinai Peninsula.

Since Wednesday, 13,418 Israelis have traveled to the Sinai Peninsula.

The expectation is that during the entire Passover holiday, the number of passengers in the crossing will reach 2019 numbers and before the epidemic, about 45,000 passengers.

Long queues at the border crossing in Taba, Photo: Yehuda Ben Itach

The Airports Authority held in advance and set up a huge air-conditioned tent 80 meters long for the benefit of passers-by this year at the Taba border crossing.

The border crossing with Egypt will be reinforced with stewardesses, chairs, and toilets.

And the hours of operation in the crossing have also been extended and they will start at 08:00 in the morning and until 20:00.

Nirit Maman, a resident of Acre, left the house with her family in a car at 01:00 in the morning, on their way to Eilat and from there on vacation in Sharm el-Sheikh.

They reached a border crossing at 06:00 in the morning and only at 9:40 did they cross the Egyptian side.

"The queue at the border is crazy, very crowded and tiring but worth every moment." 

Gil Bachar is waiting with his friends at the Israeli border crossing from 04:30 in the morning.

"We waited in line for the crossing and by 07:00 the time the border was opened was already completely blown up by Israelis.

Taba Crossing, Photo: Yehuda Ben Itach

"There are lots and lots of people. There is no doubt that the Israeli side is much more prepared than the Egyptian side, in terms of the number of manned positions, money exchange positions and ushers," said Yoav Ness Arbel, who set out this morning with his friends on the Sinai Peninsula.

"The queue is very crowded."

At the counter-terrorism headquarters last week we updated the guidelines and the North Sinai region is characterized by a very high level of risk, the South Sinai region is characterized by a relatively low level of risk (2 out of 4).

Were we wrong?

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