Britain’s Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, accompanied by deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam, made a flying visit to Israel this week to see how its success in opening up after its Covid lockdown can be emulated in the UK.
Mr Gove, one of Israel’s strongest supporters, arrived in Israel on Monday night and went straight into a meeting with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi on Tuesday morning. Mr Ashkenazi asked Mr Gove to express Israel’s thanks for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s opposition to the International Criminal Court investigation of alleged war crimes by Israel.
During the fact-finding mission, meetings were due to take place with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein.
Mr Gove’s “shopping list” is understood to include the possibility of opening a travel corridor between Britain and Israel for those who are vaccinated, as well as to learn about Israel’s “Green Passport” scheme, lifting restrictions for those who can show immunity.
