Covid-19: Israel PM postpones UAE, Bahrain trip due to lockdown

Reuters | Jerusalem

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he was postponing a trip planned next week to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain due to Israel’s Covid-19 lockdown.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu greatly appreciates the invitations of the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the historic peace that has been established between our countries,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

On January 25, the Israeli cabinet had approved a ban on incoming and outgoing passenger flights to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants. It had also imposed a third national lockdown in late December to fight surging Covid-19 infections. The lockdown was supposed to have ended after two weeks. However, local Israeli media reports last week noted that the government was contemplating its extension yet again.