Israel Travel Answers

Would you please be so kind as to aid us, that we may enlighten ourselves and transcend more the boundaries of the human and spread love and wisdom of the gateway to such transcendence? Thank you so much. H E L L O............say what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????????

me too, trying to figure out; what is the QUESTION??

I'm afraid no-one here can tell you the chances of your aunt being stopped at Israeli border control and questioned. Only the border officials directly concerned can make that decision, not least because they are the only people who have all the relevant facts. So if you and your aunt travel to Israel then I think questioning on entry is a possibility you must accept, as all of us must.

I would add that not only may there be lengthy questions as you enter Israel, there could also be problems moving across the borders within Jerusalem. I hope that the British passport and the Canadian will help. Would also help to take some other documents? For example, a letter written by someone who is seen as important within the area/community in which you live... it's just a suggestion.

There are no 'borders' within Jerusalem, only some checkpoints between the city and the West Bank, where you will not be questioned at all (but you must take your passport with you when transiting them - for ID purposes).

FYI many Malaysian Muslims (and Christians) go to Jerusalem for religious tour.. > I am a citizen of both the UK and Canada, and my aunt a citizen of the UK So, that's all that counts: the passport you travel with! > and my parents are the same. But my parents were born in Pakistan. Imho where your parents were born is irrelevant to border authorities (although they may ask for it - CA did for my recent visa applications!) unless, of course, the 2009/10 profile of the expected female suicide bomber (then) still applies! LOL! You might then just be dusted for explosives! ;-) > My aunt was born in Iraq So? She's travelling on a UK passport, right? ;-) > and also lived in Iran for a short while Imho this is only relevant if she is asked to state where she had lived before.. > where (I believe) she did some sort of nuclear physicist training You believe? ;-) Why don't you ASK her, so you KNOW? ;-) Now this might be an issue but from my own experience travelling to Jerusalem for a conference many years ago, there was no interrogation for incoming passengers, only outgoing ones (we had to make sure we queued up 3 hours before departure!), where I was queried on the purpose of my visit to Israel and had to show the interrogators my conference programme and my name in it.. I don't know if things have changed i.e. if they interrogate incoming passengers (tho I did find it odd they interrogated outgoing passengers then). BTW the interrogators are well versed with body language - so, if your aunt has nothing to hide, it won't show! :-) Last but not least, if you are:- > are entranced, seduced by Jerusalem, its history, significance, energy. Be wary! You might not want to leave! ;-) Good luck!

Shalom: Israel allows entry to ALL people from ALL countries without exception. Of course if you come from or have lived in a country that has declared "we will destroy Israel", then of course you can expect some questions. If you are honest and straightforward there should be no problems. On the whole Israel does accept almost everyone, how better to dispel some of the misconceptions about Israel than letting people in to see for themselves ^O^ We have had VT visitors from both Indonesia and Malaysia, so that is a given, never met any travelers from Iran or Iraq personally. I think that is what you question pertained to. Martin

Israel has agents at Immigration and at borders well trained in what they are supposed to do. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. In Israel the passport you carry has less value than the face you carry in my opinion, there was a time when face and passports were congruous. If you are flying El Al into Israel you would be questioned thoroughly (does not matter UK Canada Pakistan passport or Greek looking faces) and you may have to prove that you have a reason to go to Israel (such as a tourist visit). If you are flying non Israeli for eg : Air France there is no questioning at all at the airport in Paris. I found out that the incoming immigration was not all problematic and the outgoing one slightly more questions, but also not problematic. I admire the Israel Security Measures, they are the best in the world, so you would be safe!

This poster has posted the exact same thing on Trip Advisor. Someone there suggested she was a troll. I do not know. BUT posting the same thing all over--most do not do that!

Actually, many people do post the same question on VT and on e.g. Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet. People who do not know Vt do not realise how swiftly questions are answered, nor how many members will be willing to give advice, information or opinion. So it makes perfect sense to post on several forums if you are anticipating just a few replies (or none at all).

I too fail to see the problem if the poster has asked the same question elsewhere. I have just returned (again) from Israel and each time the process at the airport impresses me - even if it is occasionally annoying simply because it can be quite a slow process. Generally, questions/security should be asked at check-in at your home airport on the way too Israel. But generally, unless you are flying with El Al, few questions are asked. Arrival in Israel is usually very smooth with few questions asked - although immigration officials are perfectly entitled to detail for longer questioning if they are suspicious. Be straightforward and at all costs be honest - as other posters have said, there are many overseas visitors on pilgrimages etc. Leaving the country can be more arduous - the point being, in response to an earlier posting, that you already got in - so you are now a much bigger security threat by leaving. But again, the system is there for security and safety of all those travelling. But over the years I have been travelling in and out of the country, Israeli security has become more efficient and much politer. They MAY seem to ask you the same question several times over, but there is usually subtle differences. And I would rather go through this process and be safe than the seeming lack of security at other airports. But again, always be honest with your answers. If you went to Bethlehem or Ramallah as part of your itinerary, tell them.

> If you went to Bethlehem or Ramallah as part of your itinerary, tell them. In my case, though I very much wanted to look up my old room mates in the UK (who were from Nablus), I was advised against going to the West Bank, in case I come under 'suspicion' for doing so.. So, I stuck with an Egged tour of Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee (very enlightening, indeed!)..

But as you said yourself, this was many years ago.

Sure! And you reckon things have improved? ;-)

Yes - without question.

Well, I doubt it - for Palestinians/Muslims visiting them.. But then let's not hijack this thread, ya? Cheers!

Several friends of ours, from Indonesia and Turkey who are moslem, visited the west bank (Palestinian Territories) while visiting Israel and had no problems. Martin

> As I said, things have undoubtedly improved considerably. Ask the 2 (large) Palestinian families standing next to me in the queue at Ben Gurion last week. I did.

>> I LOOK Iranian/Northern Arab/Turkish/perhaps Greek, Hispanic, Italian, Spanish. ??? are you not make too much mix? I mean, if you were Greek or Italian or Spanish you could not look like a Iranian/Northern Arab/Turkish unless you are talking about people, or 1.descending, from Iran/North Africa/Turkey living in Greece, Italy or Spain My skin can be very light coffee or very brown (depending on sunlight absorption). ???? really? it does happen to many people. :)

"I LOOK Iranian/Northern Arab/Turkish/perhaps Greek, Hispanic, Italian, Spanish. My skin can be very light coffee or very brown (depending on sunlight absorption). " Sorry, I forgot to mention that your above description does describe about 50% of the Israeli population. Just at my place of work we have people of Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan, Indian, Bedouin, Cuban, Brazilian, Mexican, Egyptian, Jordanian, Argentinian, American, Moroccan, Tunisian, Russian, Georgian, Belarussian, Ukranian, Uzbekistan and other descent...quite a "look like" mixture. Martin