The authorities of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine warned their counterparts in the State of Israel that the new, recently announced rules for crossing the Israeli border endanger the continued existence of a visa-free regime between Israel and these countries, IPN reports, with reference to the portal ISRALand – news from Israel.

Under Israel’s new policy, as of August, citizens of countries that are exempt from visas for entering Israel must obtain an electronic ETA-IL approval before traveling to the Jewish state. Moreover, even the possession of such an electronic permit does not guarantee that the holder will be allowed entry into Israel.

Under these circumstances, the Republic of Moldova, in particular, promised to respond to such Israeli innovations with similar measures.

The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine also warned that the new rules could affect the regular travel to Eastern Europe of multiple Jewish pilgrims, according to the source in Tel-Aviv.

It is meant the annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews on the occasion of the Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year holiday, when tens of thousands of pilgrims from Israel swarm on the streets of the Ukrainian city of Uman. Last year, about 30,000 citizens of Israel went to Ukraine in September, transiting the Republic of Moldova in connection with a visit paid by the Israeli foreign minister to Moldova, where he thanked the Moldovan side for cooperation.