Israelis head to Sinai for Sukkot holiday despite travel warning
Holiday crowds queue at the Taba crossing, drawn by nearby beaches and lower prices even as officials advise against travel to the peninsula
Long lines formed at the Taba border crossing during the Sukkot holiday as Israelis headed to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula despite a government travel warning.
For many travelers, the appeal is straightforward: Sinai’s beaches are a short drive and a border crossing away, with no flight to book or airport delays to navigate. Holidaymakers also cited accommodation prices that they said were lower than those at comparable destinations in Israel.
The trips have continued despite a warning from Israel’s National Security Council ahead of the Tishrei holidays against travel to Sinai. The crowds at Taba show that some travelers are weighing that warning against the convenience and cost of a nearby beach vacation.
The journey may still take time. The crossing, officially known as the Menachem Begin Border Terminal, is about 10 kilometers south of Eilat. The Israel Airports Authority has warned that roadworks on its access route could cause additional delays, making the holiday queues only part of the trip.