Israel cancels tourist visa requirement for Russians
Move will only take effect if Russians reciprocate by canceling visa requirement for Israelis.
By Irit Rosenblum Tags: Israel RussiansThe cabinet voted yesterday to cancel the visa requirement for tourists arriving in Israel from Russia. Only ministers from Shas voted against Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch's proposal.
The move will only take effect if the Russians reciprocate by canceling the visa requirement for Israelis, a subject the Foreign Ministry is now handling.
According to Aharonovitch, about four million Russian tourists visit the Middle East every year, but only 100,000 of them visit Israel. This, he claims, is due to the visa requirement, which other countries in the region do have.
Aharonovitch expects hundreds of thousands more Russian tourists to come here once the visa requirement is changed, and he predicts that the new tourists will spend hundreds of millions of shekels and create thousands of new jobs in the local tourism industry every year.
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For sure, if I were told that I can fly to Russia without a visa, I would consider doing so. Last summer I visited Lithuania (visa-free for Israelis), but could not go further to Kaliningrad (Russia). Tourists bring only positive things with them (cash and more). Those who behave inappropriately should be sent back or expelled, just as over-stayers. Those are different questions.
it would be nice but i am afraid that it is an illusion|! the many tourists from russia etc. are in Dubai and other middleeast destinations because of the first class hotels at low prices and the shopping paradise, which israel is lacking! the increase hoped for will be MINIMAL!!!
It is not clear what you are insinuating with regards to 'white slavery'. Just to remind you, it is in the western European languages, not Hebrew, that the word 'slave' is derived from 'Slav'. It is in western Europe that Slavs were regarded as a renewable slave supply since ancient times. It was the West that allowed Nazi Germany to invade Czechoslavakia, because an independent Slavic nation so far West was seen as a threat. You point your finger at Israel, which has been a haven for Russian speakers, including hundreds of thousands of non-Jews? HYPOCRITE!
And who says that the children of israel are not racists? Everyone should be welcome in this land as a guest, specialy when the tourist bring money to the badly needed Tourist industry. Cheers
RF, These are TOURISTS, who come for only a short time and spend lots of money. They don't stay longer than a few weeks and receive nothing from the government. Plus, neo-Nazis, people on welfare, and alcoholics can't afford to travel for pleasure.
more crime, neo-Nazis, welfare cases, and alcoholics. Now they won't even need a visa. Let's just throw open the doors. After spending their "productive" years in the USSR, now they come looking for a pension, medical, and a free apartment. 2/3 leave for the US after taking the govmnt handout for new olim anyway.
With plane loads of Russians, Estonians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians landing at BG airport looking to escape their bitter winter, I imagine that we should see a sharp increase in anti-Semetic incidents. Tel-Aviv brothels will once again be filled with young new faces featuring Autumn specials to celebrate the cabinets decision. Speculators looking into short term investments in Israel ? Try Vodka, 1 star flea bag hotels, pork and hair salons specializing in the cheap bleach blond perms.
"This, he claims, is due to the visa requirement, which other countries in the region do have" You must mean "...do NOT have" otherwise the entire article does not make sense