Netherlands to Ban Entry of Unvaccinated Israelis

The Netherlands is going to ban entry for Israeli travelers based on the EU's recommendation due to rising COVID-19 infection rates, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Friday.

Starting from Saturday, the northwestern European country will only allow vaccinated Israelis to enter. However, travelers must quarantine for a period of 10 days with the possibility of shortening the self-isolation period with a negative PCR test result taken on the fifth day.

The Netherlands government website said: "You may be exempted from the mandatory quarantine requirement depending on the purpose of your trip."

On Monday, a negative PCR test will have to be shown upon arrival to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and other border crossings.

Other than Israel, the United States, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia have been designated by the Netherlands government as "very high-risk areas" with Lebanon deemed a "high-risk area."

Sweden, Portugal and Italy are also imposing travel restrictions on Israeli visitors and several other countries deemed to be in the high-risk category based on rising COVID-19 infection rates.

The measures follow the EU's recommendation to its 27 member states to reimpose travel restrictions on Israel and seven other countries due to domestic outbreaks of the coronavirus.