The European Union on Thursday added Israel to the list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to visit for leisure, as Europe seeks to revive travel and salvage summer tourism from tough COVID-19 restrictions.
Reopening to Israeli tourists comes as the EU is moving to ease its current blanket ban on non-essential travel from foreign countries, with only a handful of exceptions, including New Zealand and Australia.
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The decision is not binding for the member states, but it is expected to be adopted.
It is unclear when this measure will take effect and whether certain restrictions would be attached, although there is an expectation that this would take place within days.
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said that he welcomed the development and said that the decision "paves the way for a gradual return to normalcy." He said that he would like to "commend the Foreign Ministry's officials in Europe whose worked helped facilitate this move."
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