By RIA Novosti,
Tel Aviv : An agreement on mutual visa-free travel between Russia and Israel signed in late March could come into force in late summer or early fall, Russia’s ambassador to Israel said on Wednesday.
“We hope the agreement on visa-free travel will become effective late this summer or in early fall,” Pyotr Stegny told a Russian-Israeli business forum in the Jewish capital. “I am positive this would be a powerful impetus to the development of business ties between our countries.”
The agreement, signed on March 20, will come into force 90 days after all procedures have been finalized. Russia has completed all the formalities, but the document needs to be ratified by Israel’s parliament.
Israeli media earlier reported that Tel Aviv, which is keen to increase tourism from Russia, could unilaterally cancel visas for Russians after the deal has been ratified without waiting for the end of the three-month period.
More than 100,000 Russian tourists visited Israel last year, which is third place after the United States and France.
Observers said visa-free travel between the two countries would be both economically beneficial and historically natural. Immigrants from Russia and other former Soviet republics account for over 1 million of Israel’s 7 million citizens, meaning that visits to friends and relatives are likely to rise dramatically.