Pecker is a key witness in the case against the former US president, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payment
Israel's health ministry Sunday recommended banning Israelis from travelling to the United States, and added several European countries to its Covid "red list", aimed at containing the Omicron variant's spread.
Barring US travel for Israeli citizens and residents would mark a significant step for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government, given the hundreds of thousands of dual nationals and close ties between the countries.
Speaking before Sunday's cabinet meeting, Bennett reiterated that he would continue to restrict travel in order to avoid further lockdowns.
ALSO READ:
"We bought precious time for the State of Israel," by curbing travel immediately after the new variant was detected last month in South Africa, the premier said.
"European countries are either in lockdown or are heading that way," he said, stressing that for Israel "time is running out".
Lawmakers on Sunday approved an earlier health ministry recommendation to bar Israeli citizens and residents from travelling to France, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, Sweden and the UAE. Britain and Denmark were already on the red list, as was most of Africa.
In addition to the US, the health ministry recommended that Canada, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey be red-listed, guidance that is awaiting government approval.
Israeli citizens and residents who are already abroad when a country is declared red must quarantine for a week after returning home.
Foreigners coming from red list countries are barred unless they get special permission.
Ran Balicer, chairman of Israel's national expert panel on Covid-19, told AFP the travel rules were allowing for most life to continue as usual inside Israel.
"The more strict you are in preventing importation and delaying local transmission, the more lax you can be in disturbing the economy and everyday life," he said.
He said that in recent weeks, Israeli health authorities had tested each positive Covid case for presence of the Omicron variant, and conducted contact tracing to stop chains of transmission. As of Friday, 441 cases of Omicron had been detected, he said.
Balicer estimated that Israel would ease its restrictions once local transmission of Omicron began to rise, reducing the relative proportion of cases coming in from overseas.
He said it was not yet clear if the strain posed a risk of severe illness and death.
More than 4.1 million of Israel's estimated 9.3 million people have received three shots of a coronavirus vaccine, with the country currently giving jabs to children aged 5-11.
Pecker is a key witness in the case against the former US president, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payment
The oil and gas conglomerate and Fifa, the world governing body, sign major sponsorship agreement
Toomaj Salehi risks being hanged after the conviction on the Shariah charge of "corruption on Earth" by a Revolutionary Court
Aid groups warn any invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions for Gaza's 2.4 million people
The American they will face Australia and Serbia on July 15 and July 17 as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympic Games
The leaders emphasise that the deal to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza
Dubai-based Sumit Augustine has had a philosophical approach towards spending
The regional upswing also defies oil production cutbacks