Israel bans Ethiopian Easter pilgrims

Israel is reportedly banning the entry of Ethiopian pilgrims who want to embark on a pilgrimage to the country during this year’s Easter for fear they will not return home.

Travel and tour companies in Ethiopia had received a letter from Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority stating that any Ethiopian traveller who wants to visit Israel will need to contact the authority personally and receive permission to enter.

Tourists from other countries do not have to follow this same protocol; tour companies can generally submit a group application for tourists travelling as a group.

The authority’s letter noted that the move was out of concern that these Ethiopians may not return to their country due to the ongoing civil war there,.

Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority said the policy was necessary because in the past, Ethiopian tourists had overstayed.

However, the head of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association said it was “severely discriminatory” as it only applied to Ethiopians.

The Tigray War began in November 2020. Ethiopia’s tourism sector has also been hit hard by the fighting, as many of the country’s most-celebrated destinations are unreachable.

Africanews/Olajumoke Adeleke