U.S., Feb. 16 -- Thirty-five Israeli tourists were detained at Ukraine's Kiev Airport and barred from entering the country on Friday. The incident appears to be a some sort of a tit-for-tat on Ukraine officials' part amid a sharp rise in the number of Ukrainians refused entry to Israel.

According to Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, the Israelis were released following the intervention of the embassy in Kiev.

Twenty-eight of the 35 detained tourists were allowed to enter Ukraine, while the rest purchased tickets for elsewhere.

A number of the Israelis said it was not clear why they were not being allowed into Ukraine and the Foreign Ministry said it had instructed the embassy to seek a clarification.

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