It turns out that political and diplomatic realities do not align with Israel's recognition. Not only are there no direct flights to Somaliland, but the visa process for Somalia, Somaliland's neighbor, has turned any attempt to reach the region into an almost insurmountable challenge.

Somaliland, despite having been formally recognized by Israel, is not recognized by any other country in the world. A direct result of this situation is the absence of direct flights to the territory. In addition, international airlines also do not recognize Somaliland, which means there is no easy way for Israelis to get there. In practice, traveling to Somaliland requires first flying to Somalia, the larger neighboring country. The problem is that Israelis cannot obtain a visa to Somalia unless they hold a foreign passport.

If you do manage to secure a Somali visa, entry into Somaliland itself is relatively simple. Hargeisa International Airport, located in Somaliland's capital, offers visitors a visa on arrival for about $60. The process is handled on the spot and takes only a few minutes.

Israel's recognition of Somaliland has not provided practical solutions for Israelis who want to visit. The political system, rooted in conflict and a lack of international recognition, has created a situation in which every attempt to reach the territory runs into seemingly impenetrable bureaucratic barriers.

While recognition of a state does not always translate into practical solutions or conditions that allow tourists to arrive, in the case of Somaliland the story highlights the wide gap between government policy and a political reality that complicates any effort at direct engagement. In the end, even though Israel has recognized Somaliland, the path to reaching it remains blocked for Israelis, and we were left grounded.

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Such a ranking of the five worst airports in the world, as well as the three best airports in the world, was recently published by travel insurance comparison platform iService. The platform built the ranking around several parameters: efficiency of immigration and customs officials, check-in wait times, airport accessibility, and the level of security checks at the airport.

Regarding the world's worst airports, it turns out that the airport where you will feel the greatest stress and helplessness is Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey. This airport received 18.46 points out of one hundred in the index. Survey editors note that, regarding the airport, the two worst points are check-in and arrival options.

The second-worst airport on the list is Humberto Delgado Airport, serving the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The airport received 22.5 points out of 100. The most problematic aspect of this airport is flight delays, which average 27.39 minutes over the past year.

The third-worst airport is Manchester Airport, which received 23.10 points out of 100, surpassing the rest of Britain's airports. The airport recorded 69% dissatisfaction with baggage arrival and handling, and also suffers from long wait times in the security screening area.

The two airports closing the list of five worst airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (26.83 points) and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago (30.01 points).

The best airports

Beyond the stressful airports, the survey also ranks the five best airports in the world, where you will be significantly calmer when you need to depart from them. The first place is occupied by Changi Airport in Singapore (82.7 points out of 100). This is the airport ranked second in the area of flight cancellation rate, with only Seoul's airport above it.

The airport has won first place 13 consecutive times in Skytrax's World Airport Awards for best airports. Survey editors noted that Changi Airport offers a multitude of attractions, such as a butterfly garden, indoor rock climbing, and free movies at the airport cinema. The airport also maintains the world's largest indoor waterfall (131 feet, approximately 43 meters). Around the waterfall, there is lush vegetation and leisure and recreation spaces that are open to everyone.

In the honorable second place is Hamad Airport in Doha (75.89 points), followed by Incheon International Airport in Seoul (72.61 points).

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According to an Israel Hayom investigation, this information is false. There has been no change to the official policy of the Japanese government, and no entry ban, visa waiver cancellation, or unique restrictions on Israeli citizens have been announced.

Breaking:

Japan officially bans all Israeli tourists from entering the country, citing Israeli atrocities in Gaza . pic.twitter.com/V4WtCmN8uS

— Mega-Politics (@_MegaPolitics) December 20, 2025

The false information apparently stems from a recent incident – a hotel in Nagano Prefecture in central Japan refused to accept a booking from an Israeli travel agency, citing dissatisfaction with Israel's actions toward Palestinians. According to reports, during contacts with the Israeli agency, the hotel management indicated that its decision stemmed from its political position regarding the war in Gaza.

Following the incident, the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo contacted local authorities in Nagano Prefecture, demanding that the incident be investigated and clarifying whether this constitutes a violation of Japanese law.

After an initial investigation, the Nagano Prefecture government issued a verbal warning to the hotel operators and clarified that refusing to accept guests based on nationality could be considered prohibited discrimination, contrary to guidelines practiced in Japan.

The incident joins another event that sparked controversy earlier this year, when a hotel in Kyoto demanded that an Israeli tourist sign a declaration that he had not been involved in war crimes during his military service – a condition that was disqualified after the authorities intervened.

The incidents are occurring against the backdrop of growing public protest in Japan against the fighting in Gaza, including demonstrations and civilian initiatives, but they have no expression in the country's immigration or tourism policy.

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Within the Schengen Zone, where crossing from country to country typically occurs without passport checks, member states may temporarily restore supervision of internal borders in cases of security threats, terrorism, serious crime, or extraordinary migration pressure.

In recent years, and particularly against the backdrop of wars, terrorism, and illegal migration, more and more countries have chosen to exercise this option – and the situation is expected to continue into early and mid-2026. According to official announcements, the inspections are expected to remain in effect until June 2026, depending on the country.

These are the countries that will enforce border inspections:

Austria

Against the backdrop of illegal migration through the Balkans and pressure on the reception system.

In effect: December 16, 2025 – until June 15, 2026

Expected checks at borders with Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovenia.

Slovenia

Preparation for security threats, organized crime, and mass-participation events in Europe.

In effect: December 22, 2025 – until June 21, 2026

Possible delays at crossings from Croatia and Hungary.

Italy

Concern about terrorism, exploitation of migration routes, and preparation for major events like the Jubilee Year and the Olympics.

In effect: December 19, 2025 – until June 18, 2026

Inspections at entry from Slovenia.

Netherlands

Extraordinary pressure from asylum seekers and smuggling network activity.

In effect: December 9, 2025 – until June 8, 2026

Checks at borders with Belgium and Germany, and also at some airports.

Denmark

Concern about sabotage operations, terrorism, and organized crime against the backdrop of global tensions.

In effect: November 12, 2025 – until May 11, 2026

Inspections primarily toward Germany.

Norway

Protection of energy infrastructure and concern about foreign intelligence activity.

In effect: November 12, 2025 – until May 11, 2026

Checks at ports and on ferries.

Sweden

Rise in organized crime and threats from extremist groups.

In effect: November 12, 2025 – until May 11, 2026

Checks also on flights and at crossings from Denmark.

France

Terror threats, rise in antisemitic incidents, and smuggling from the northern border.

In effect: November 1, 2025 – until April 30, 2026

Checks on land, in the air, and at sea.

Poland

Migration pressure from the Belarus border and intensification of illegal crossings toward Germany.

In effect: October 5, 2025 – until April 4, 2026

Germany

Heavy burden of illegal migration and smuggling networks, alongside security tensions.

In effect: September 16, 2025 – until March 15, 2026

Checks at borders with nearly all its neighbors.

Important to know before traveling

Border inspections don't mean crossings are closed; rather, they allow authorities to conduct spot checks. Nevertheless, travelers need to prepare:

• Carry a passport or identification document at every crossing
• Account for delays, especially at land crossings
• Stay updated on guidelines before and during travel

Authorities emphasize these are temporary measures, expected to be canceled later in 2026 – but until then, free movement in Europe will be somewhat less free.

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The protest against Israeli cruise passengers is planned for Tuesday at 09:00 at Souda port near the city of Chania. This is the third protest this year against the ship, following protests held in the summer and on November 4.

The protest is being led, again, by the teachers' union ELME (the Greek teachers' federation), which will allow teachers to stop classes for three hours (09:00-12:00) to enable them to participate in the protest.

"Soldiers taking a break from killing"

In the teachers' union announcement published Monday morning in media outlets on the island, it stated, "Israel, despite the ceasefire, has not stopped bombing Gaza, killing civilians and advancing in the West Bank. The genocidal policy of the murderous state continues and will continue as long as the occupation exists. There can be no peace without justice."

According to the announcement, the cruise ship is not just transporting tourists from Israel, but "constitutes part of a systematic effort to whitewash the genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank through tourism." The announcement claimed that the ship transports soldiers "taking a break from killing" and as "tourists" walk around Greece singing songs like "Death to Arabs" and "Gaza is a cemetery."

As recalled, during the ship's previous visit to Crete on November 4, police made extensive use of tear gas against protesters and made arrests. Ship passengers were delayed for a long time on buses due to the protest. In the summer, the ship's route caused a chain of protests throughout Greece.

As mentioned, this morning's announcement called on tour guides, port workers, and food service and tourism workers in Crete "to make appropriate decisions and not cooperate, not to serve the murderers from Israel."

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The most recent incident occurred on November 8 at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. According to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office, the guest, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said they had "relinquished jurisdiction" and released the body to the guest's personal physician. They did not provide details about the cause of death.

The initial report came from an X account that tracks real-time police calls across Disney World and stated that a person had been found "unconscious" on the property at 3:18 p.m. Later, authorities confirmed the individual had died.

Saratoga Springs, one of Disney's premium resorts, offers spacious villas, a spa and pools, with nightly rates that can reach 2,300 dollars. No additional information has been released so far about the circumstances of the death.

A string of unusual incidents since mid-October

The latest case follows four previous deaths:

October 14 – Sommer Equitz, 31, was found dead at the Contemporary Resort in what authorities ruled a suicide.

October 21 – A man in his 60s with a known medical condition died at Fort Wilderness.

October 23 – Matthew Alec Cohen, 28, died after jumping from the 12th floor of the Contemporary Resort.

November 2 – A woman in her 40s was found unresponsive at the Pop Century Resort and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Disney World and the Orange County Sheriff's Office have not commented on the unusual wave of incidents, and investigations remain ongoing. It is not yet clear whether the cases are connected or if the timing is a troubling coincidence.

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Rather than tweaking various parameters endlessly, travelers describe desires naturally and let the system produce results, Google Flights described. Queries like "week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only" or "10 day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder" trigger displays of fitting low prices, including unexpected locations, Google Flights showed.

Advanced AI from Google captures request subtleties, then draws on current Google Flights information for prompt, relevant selections, Google Flights highlighted. Beta rollout begins now to harvest responses and advance AI travel assistance, while traditional Google Flights persists with upgrades such as basic-economy exclusion for domestic North American itineraries, Google Flights mentioned.

Access starts automatically over the following week in the United States, Canada, and India via dedicated page or menu, Google Flights announced. Hopes remain high that remarkable journeys book at remarkable prices with input welcomed, Google Flights finished.

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The Canadian airline's Montreal base will see no resumption of flights destined for Tel Aviv and Delhi in Summer 2026, AirlineGeeks reported. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner previously flew both services three times weekly.

An initial plan called for the routes to restart in May. An airline spokesperson told AirlineGeeks that service to both Tel Aviv and Delhi will be maintained from Air Canada's Toronto hub.

The Montreal-to-Delhi flight leaving Canada is now scheduled to cease on April 28 and restart on Oct. 25, AirlineGeeks confirmed. The spokesperson further noted, "Affected customers will be offered options, including rebooking on alternative gateways or a full refund. Air Canada is enacting the change now to give customers certainty and the opportunity to make alternative travel arrangements. Air Canada remains committed to the India market and will operate daily service from Toronto to Delhi next summer," AirlineGeeks reported.

Air Canada's service from Montreal to Tel Aviv has been removed from its schedule despite being slated for a May 3 resumption. The spokesperson continued by explaining, "Service from Toronto will operate five times weekly, up from four times weekly this winter, but Montreal-Tel Aviv will not operate for summer 2026 for commercial reasons," AirlineGeeks reported. The official added, "Affected customers will be offered options, including rebooking on alternative gateways or a full refund. Air Canada remains committed to the Tel Aviv market and is enacting these changes now to give customers certainty and the opportunity to make alternative travel arrangements."

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The incident occurred Tuesday, when the couple was seen performing sexual activity in daylight, showing no consideration for the presence of other tourists. Some shocked visitors filmed the act and shared it online, sparking widespread public outrage and concerns about Thailand's tourism image.

The Koh Phangan district chief ordered an immediate investigation to identify and track down the couple. Authorities discovered the pair had been staying at a hotel in a village in the district. Wednesday, district and immigration officers, including the deputy police commander, arrested the man and woman at their hotel and took them to the Koh Phangan immigration office for questioning.

According to authorities, the two admitted they were the couple appearing in the sexual clip circulated online, and acknowledged they had engaged in sexual intercourse at the waterfall around midday on November 4. Following their confession, police charged the tourists with "committing an obscene act in public by exposing their bodies or offensive sexual behavior." The couple was transferred to Koh Phangan police station, where legal proceedings began.

Police stated that such behavior not only violates Thai law but also offends local customs and tarnishes the image of a popular nature site. Tourism authorities have long warned that visitors must respect Thai cultural norms, especially at public or sacred sites. This case serves as a reminder that Thailand welcomes tourists but expects them to behave with basic respect.

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A hotel on Ko Lanta island in Krabi province, Thailand, sparked discomfort and anger among Israeli tourists after displaying photos of the property decorated with Palestinian flags in its photo gallery on Booking.com.

Images shown on the Baan Pakgasri Hideaway hotel page feature Palestinian flags hanging in the hotel's outdoor area, above the guest relaxation zone. The gallery also shows a man photographed next to a flag emblazoned with a fist symbol and the text "Free Palestine," along with additional images in the same vein.

"We searched for a hotel on the island and saw these pictures on Booking, and decided to pass," one user shared. Questions also periodically arise from concerned users about whether it's advisable to visit the Ko Lanta and Krabi area, which are associated with a large Muslim population.

Ko Lanta island and the broader Krabi province area in Thailand are known as regions with a traditional Muslim population, unlike other Thai destinations such as Phuket and Bangkok, where the majority is Buddhist. The island, where most residents are Muslim, includes numerous mosques and offers halal menus for the local population and Muslim tourists. Against this backdrop, the decision to display public support for Palestinians at the local hotel reflects the cultural and religious identity of a significant portion of the island's residents.

A response from Booking will be provided when received.

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