As the omicron version spreads throughout the world, Israeli ministers authorised adding the United States and Canada to its coronavirus travel red list on Monday.
The unusual decision to blacklist the United States coincides with an increase in illnesses in Israel. The United States will join a growing list of European countries and other places to which Israelis are forbidden from travelling and must be quarantined upon their return.
The bill is anticipated to be approved by a parliamentary committee.
The travel restriction will go into force at midnight on Wednesday if it is approved.
In recent weeks, Israel has observed an increase in new instances of the highly contagious coronavirus variety, prompting the country to close its borders and limit travel in late November.