Israel instituted a
travel ban on many African, European and North American countries, as well as others, due to the rapid spread of the COVID variant, Omicron.
Citizens wishing to travel to those destinations had to receive special permission from a committee in the Interior Ministry, and show cause.
The work of the committee was criticized for being slow, clumsy, and bureaucratic, and those who were ultimately able to board flights were required to sign a commitment that they would not return to the country before three months had passed.
