Dozens of Israeli tourists and businessmen were delayed for several hours at Moscow airport's passport control on Wednesday, prompting Israel's Foreign Ministry to announce it was looking into the matter.
About half of those delayed at the airport were let into the country by Wednesday afternoon.
Russian authorities have complained to Israel recently over the treatment of Russian tourists at Ben-Gurion Airport. A Russian source told Haaretz the issue was "troubling," adding that Russian citizens miss out on their vacations despite visa agreements between the two countries.
In 2019, Israel denied entry for thousands of Russian citizens. The Russian Embassy in Israel said that over 5,700 tourists were barred entry by Israel this year, with Israeli authorities reporting similar numbers.
"Every day, about 20 tourists who come to Israel with money and an organized tour are being sent back to Russia," the embassy told Haaretz.
According to Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, in 2018 over 2,000 Russian nationals were detained at Ben Gurion Airport's detention facility, including dozens of minors.
Despite bilateral agreements signed in 2008 granting visa-free entry to nationals of both countries, Israel is concerned some Russians and other visitors from the former Soviet Union might enter as tourists but remain in Israel illegally.
Israel's Population and Immigration Authority stressed denying entry to visitors is on a personal basis only. "Tens of thousands of Russians did enter Israel," it said.
Israel's Channel 12 News reported on Tuesday that businessmen were being detained at the Moscow airport.
The Foreign Ministry said it "is in regular contact with Russian authorities regarding consular issues, including tourist and business entry procedures. We are looking into the issue of recent refusals and whether they indicate a change of state entry policy. Our aim is to allow Israeli tourists and businessmen to enter Russia as usual, and especially when both countries have an interest in encouraging bilateral tourism and trade."
This comes amid rising tentions between the two countries after an Israeli woman, Naama Issachar, was sentenced in October to seven and a half years in prison on drug-related charges, after she was detained also at the Moscow airport.
Among the detainees at Moscow airport was Yedioth Aharonot journalist Itamar Eichner, who said he had been detained to prevent him from covering the Issachar affair.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he plans to visit Israel in January next year, to attend the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem. Putin also said in September that Russia is paying a "high attention" to developing mutually beneficial relations with Israel.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israelis-held-up-at-moscow-airport-russia-says-israel-denied-entry-to-thousands-1.8287626
2019-12-18 13:17:00Z
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