Oxendine says several companies would not insure or ask a much higher premium of people who have traveled or plan to travel to countries such as Israel.

Now, the insurers will have to ask the commissioner for a country to be put on a list of ``dangerous'' ones before taking that step. And Oxendine says Israel will never be put on that list, even though the State Department discourages travel to parts of it.

Oxendine says that countries in war zones like Iraq or plagued with civil wars would likely make the list.

While several bills have been introduced that deal with this, Oxendine says he acted today because Delta is planning direct flights to Tel Aviv. He also says that with Passover and Easter coming up, people should be free to travel to places that are important to their religion.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)