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With Israel shut down, hotlines field questions from stranded tourists

An emergency information center, staffed by English and Hebrew speakers, is assisting some 90,000 visitors in the country.

Travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where flights were being delayed as the workers of the airport went on strike in a protest against the judicial overhaul proposed by the government on March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.
Travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where flights were being delayed as the workers of the airport went on strike in a protest against the judicial overhaul proposed by the government on March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism opened an emergency virtual information center to field questions from the roughly 90,000 tourists currently in the country.

The announcement came amid ongoing nationwide strikes by the Histadrut, Israel’s national labor union. Ben-Gurion International Airport closed on Monday, leaving many people stranded.

The information center will be open at all times and staffed by English-speaking and Hebrew-speaking ministry employees.

The staff is also available via phone, email, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where flights were being delayed as the workers of the airport went on strike in a protest against the judicial overhaul proposed by the government on March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.
Travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where flights were being delayed as the workers of the airport went on strike in a protest against the judicial overhaul proposed by the government on March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.

Airline personnel at Ben-Gurion International Airport, March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.
Airline personnel at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where flights were being delayed as part of a national labor strike protesting judicial overhaul proposed by the government, March 27, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.

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