Israel and Greece are reportedly negotiating a tourism pact to mutually recognize the nations’ vaccination certificates which allow travelers who’ve been vaccinated to move between the nations without any restrictions, as per reports
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to make a quick visit to Israel on February 8 to announce the deal. The go-to would come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to appear in the courtroom for his trial on corruption charges earlier the same day.
Greece’s international minister and tourism minister will be a part of Mitsotakis for the visit, the Walla news site reported.
Israel’s Health Ministry has yet to approve the tourism plan, although, Walla mentioned.
If the deal goes by, travelers will need to show certification proving they’ve been vaccinated and won’t need to be tested for the virus before departure or after arriving or spend any time in quarantine. The reports didn’t say when the planned settlement would go into impact.
Israel is currently under a nationwide lockdown to stem a raging third-wave virus outbreak. The restrictions have shuttered its main international airport to commercial flights to prevent the import of new, more infectious virus variants from overseas.
The British variant accounts for the majority of new cases in Israel and is causing more serious illness among younger Israelis than the original strain of the virus.
The lockdown is about to be lifted Friday but health officials are reportedly pushing for an extension.
Israel’s vaccination campaign, while slowing, has been largely successful and has given hope that the pandemic will begin to abate.
Israel has led the world’s most rapid inoculation campaign, with over a 3rd of the population getting at least one dose. All adults will be eligible to receive vaccines from Thursday.
