Israeli and Ukrainian officials met virtually on Monday to discuss the possibility of mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
Thousands of Israelis travel every year to Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah to pray at the grave site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman.
Last year, the pilgrimage from Israel was banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, angering Breslov Hassidim.
Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana (Yamina) has approved a plan to allow vaccinated Israelis to fly to Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah. The plan must also be approved by the Health Ministry and other government agencies.
The Israeli and Ukrainian officials exchanged information on the status of processing and bringing the technical content of the certificates in line with the rules of both countries and the norms of the World Health Organization, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel said in a statement.
Ukrainian Ambassador Yevgeny Korniychuk “stressed the importance of signing an intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of vaccination passports for COVID-19 as soon as possible” to allow for the organization of a safe visit to Ukraine by Israeli pilgrims during the celebration of... Rosh Hashanah,” the statement said.
“The draft agreement was submitted by the Israeli side for approval in May and is in fact fully processed,” Korniychuk was quoted as saying.
The embassy said it was in “close contact with representatives of religious communities” to discuss and reconcile issues related to this year’s pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Nachman.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.