Virus victims' bodies arrive in Israel despite restrix

Although air travel to Israel has come to a near standstill due to coronavirus restrictions, one of voy still endures: final journey of Jews wishing to be buried in Israel.

For centuries, Jews have sought to be interred in "Holy Land," going to great lengths and greater costs to secure ir final resting place in land of ir biblical forefars.

Today, t even a once-in-a-century pandemic is halting this ancient last wish.

Despite challenges presented by pandemic, families, aviation industry and health workers are finding ways to keep deceased flying in — chartering private planes, ding cargo flights and striking deals with handling companies.

Israel's foreign ministry said 300 bodies, including many COVID-19 victims, have been flown in for burial since February.

During that time, Israel's typically bustling Ben Gurion International Airport has become a ghost town, with only a few hundred passengers arriving on a handful of flights each week.

Jews have long been drawn by pull of being buried in "Holy Land."

biblical forefar Jacob and his son Joseph both requested to be buried in "Promised Land" after having died in Egypt.

Some Jews believe that being buried in "Holy Land" grants atonement for sins or will make resurrection easier when Messiah comes.

Israel has mand to keep COVID-19 crisis largely in check, and though it has reported 219 deaths and about 16,000 confirmed cases, it has mand to escape scenes of overwhelmed morgues and cemeteries from or countries.

Bringing in bodies is complex and costly, even under ordinary circumstances.

Purchasing a private plane can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on location.

Many choose to spend hefty sums for a prime spot in Jerusalem's Mount of Olives Cemetery, which overlooks storied Old City and its important Jewish sites.

ditional costs include flights and transport from airport to cemetery.

Those who choose to be buried in Israel must also navigate a web of bureaucracy, starting with handling companies at ir departure point to ir local Israeli consulate or embassy as well as Israeli Health Ministry.

coronavirus crisis has complicated an alrey onerous process.

While Jewish families typically fly in from abro to escort body and attend funeral, that's t possible under current travel restrictions, which require a two-week quarantine for anyone entering from abro.

Extra measures on bodies are required to prevent infections, including ditional wrapping material and a separate ritual purification process.

In hard-hit New York, which has a large Jewish community, some handling companies have refused to deal with bodies of those who have died of COVID-19, illness caused by virus.

An Israeli aviation official, speaking on condition of anymity because he wasn't authorised to discuss sensitive process of transporting bodies with media, said a cargo flight that comes from Belgium five times a week brings in about 20 bodies a flight — "an exceptional amount."

Most come from France, which has a large Jewish community and a severe outbreak, official said.

He said a weekly cargo flight from New York also brings in bodies but often can't meet families' needs, as Jewish custom requires burying de promptly.

Wealthier families have hired private planes, which have been shipping in bodies about every or day from Europe and US.

In photos released by ZAKA, an Israeli medical service, sleek, slim interior of a private jet that h recently touched down was packed with four wooden caskets.

Israeli airline El Al struck a deal last week with a handling company in New York prepared to process bodies of people who have died of coronavirus.