Israel and Cyprus are planning to resume travel between the two countries for travelers who had been inoculated with both vaccine shots, officials said on Sunday.
A similar agreement to ease travel restrictions for Green Pass-bearing Israelis was signed last week between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Under the agreement, green passport holders - those fully vaccinated against or recovered from coronavirus - will be exempt from going into isolation upon arrival and will not be subjected to COVID-19 tests.
Hosting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, President Reuven Rivlin, said there were similar "understandings" on allowing the renewal of flights to Cyprus, which has reported that some 10% of its tourism was from Israel.
"Let me say how pleased I am with the recent understandings that will allow the renewal of flights between Israel and Cyprus and call on more countries to adopt the 'green pass,'" Rivlin said in a statement after meeting Anastasiades.
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Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades (L) greeting President Reuven Rivlin ahead of a meeting in Jerusalem
(Photo: AFP)
The Cypriot president, who is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later Sunday, was quoted in as saying that Cyprus and Jerusalem had "an ambitious plan of action for cooperation between our countries."
No dates have been given for the implementation of the deals with Green and Cyprus. Israel has been closed to nearly all international air traffic as a COVID-19 precaution since Jan 26.
The country is on course to fully inoculate 30% of its 9 million population with the two-dose regimen this month, a benchmark for a preliminary easing of curbs. It hopes for 50% coverage and a wider reopening next month.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem
(Photo: EPA)
The vaccine campaign is a centerpiece of Netanyahu's bid to win a fifth term in a March 23 election.
Israel began emerging from its third lockdown last Sunday and now plans to reopen restaurants around March 9, according to coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash.
To gain entry, these beneficiaries would have to present a green passport