JERUSALEM, Dec 20, Israel added the United States to its no-fly list on Monday, citing concerns over the spread of the COVID- 19 Omicron variant.
Israel would need special permission to fly to the United States, one of more than 50 countries that its citizens can't travel, according to the edict, which goes into effect at 2200 GMT on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that Israel had bought some time by moving fast to limit travel when Omicron was first detected last month, but that this was now waning. He predicted a surge in the number of illnesses within a few weeks.
Cabinet ministers voted on Monday to put the United States, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland and Turkey on the no-fly roster, according to Bennett's office.
Israel has logged 134 confirmed Omicron cases and 307 suspected cases, according to the Health Ministry. It said that 167 of these were symptomatic.
Israel banned entry of foreigners on November 25 and has imposed three to 14 day quarantine orders for Israelis returning from abroad in a response to Omicron, which was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong.