Ukrainians do not need visas to Israel

Ukraine abolished visas to Israel

Ukrainian authorities in the person of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gryshchenko and Israel, represented by Mr. Lieberman signed an agreement which can significantly simplify lives of tourists. The new agreement includes the complete abolition of visas for both parties.

Preliminary agreement on visa-free border crossing met numerous protests among members of the Israeli religious party Sephardic Jews, headed by a political party leader and Interior Minister Eli Yishai.

Seven members of the supreme authority (the Knesset), which had been found guilty of criminal offenses, the abolition of the visa regime may cause an avalanche increase in the number of Ukrainian emigrants in Israel that will contribute significantly to the increase in crime and prostitution. According to the report of the Ministry of Public Security, during the past year in Israel have already been arrested two Ukrainian citizens who were illegally involved in prostitution.

According to Mr. Lieberman, signing of this agreement was only possible thanks to the deep productive cooperation between the two countries on this issue.

Previously, such a visa agreement was signed with the Russian side. According to information provided by Mr. Lieberman, not looking at the problem of prostitution, abolition of visa regime with Russia resulted in doubling of tourist inflow to Israel.

In addition to the abolition of the visa regime, the Ministry of Tourism of both countries discussed the possibility of reducing the cost of air travel and the creation of a zone of duty-free trade between countries.

In the agreement was also decided the creation in Kiev the office of the Ministry of Tourism to promote Israel's tourism in Ukraine.

Alesia Belaya

Photo: Alesia Belaya

Date: 02/08/2010