As Matzav.com reported earlier today, Israel is barring entry to all foreign citizens, including those who live in Israel, even if they hold entry permits. This edict took effect immediately. Therefore, Chaim V’Chessed, via Matzav.com, urgently publicized a call to foreigners abroad not to board flights to Israel, as government officials insisted that such passengers would be refused entry, and returned to their country of origin.
On the other hand, the same Cabinet decision ordered that Israeli citizens returning from abroad must quarantine in government hotels. Implementation of this decision was delayed until Wednesday, December 23, at 2 p.m.
Incensed foreign residents of Israel who found themselves abroad reached out in anger to protest the unfairness of the situation. “It is bad enough that they are banning foreign residents from entering Israel,” they averred, ‘But they are not even giving us a grace period to get back to our homes!”
Chaim V’Chessed’s tireless CEO, Rabbi Paysach Freedman, told Matzav.com that he feverishly began contacting government officials in an attempt to alter the decision.
We are pleased to report that a possible window of opportunity has opened. Due to the intervention of the indefatigable Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, head of the Igud of foreign yeshivas and seminaries, officials are now indicating to us that passengers holding entry permits to Israel who do arrive in the next day and a half will not be deported, and will, hopefully be allowed to enter Israel.
As this is an extremely dynamic situation, there is no guarantee that this will be the case. Each passenger should make his or her own decision as to whether they wish to take this risk.
Matzav.com will provide further updates as they become available.
{Matzav.com}
