Edelstein: High Court Ruling Removing Travel Limits ‘Irresponsible’

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein blasted the High Court’s ruling on Thursday, calling its ruling the day earlier striking down government limits on air travel “irresponsible.”

Speaking at an event held at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Edelstein warned that Israel is not yet finished with the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think that we still cannot relax completely yet. We are facing a very, very serious enemy, and it isn’t a good idea to encourage the feeling that it’s all over and that it’s time to celebrate.”

He said, “I’m sad to say this but even the High Court gave expression to this phenomenon yesterday with its totally irresponsible ruling totally opening the borders of Israel for anyone who wants to come in or go out.”

“It is against the public interest, we’re not there yet.”

In its ruling Wednesday, the High Court blasted the government over its decision to limit the number of incoming passengers allowed to enter Israel to 3,000 per day.

The court struck down the limit, as well as the requirement that unvaccinated travelers seek approval from a special exceptions committee in order to travel.

“In the future, any new restrictions on travel into or out of Israel needs, in legal terms, a comprehensive, factual, data-based foundation,” the court said.

The court also slammed the restrictions themselves, writing in the ruling that the limits constitute an “assault on the very heart of the legal right to enter Israel and to leave it, and other rights that are at the heart of the fabric of life in democratic societies.”