Post: #1

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dont-tell-...54628.html

Just wondering if anyone has gone through. Safe to safe if you aren't Jewish or have family in Israel you went to visit you are bending over?

Post: #2

Just don't have any visiting records to Arab countries. Some frequent travelers I knew had two passports since they were doing business in Saudi Arabia and going to Israel brought complications on them.

Sometimes they exert psychological pressure on people if they deem you suspicious of something. But that is no reason to be alarmed, they are just a bit paranoid in some cases. You are going to be under surveillance anyway for a time

I don't take it personally, but I know some corporate guys who were spooked by all of it so much, that they requested a job transfer.

Post: #3

I've been through three times, but for business which makes a big difference.

Coming into the country it helps if you have VIP service. They'll whisk you right through customs/immigration and do all the talking for you in Hebrew.

Leaving you can expect a lot of suspicious glares and frequent passport and visa checks, as well as a very thorough bag check. They even made me pull my charging cables out of my bag so they could check for explosive residue individually. Again a exit letter from my employer and VIP really helped.

The worst part of traveling to Israel is the second bag and security check before you board the plane. This goes for both leaving Newark and Tel Aviv.

Post: #4

Get a second passport.

Post: #5

I've been through but only with VIP service.

I got asked many fucking times why I was going to Israel by security.

I asked them to not stamp my passport and they didn't.

Post: #6

(06-11-2015 06:24 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  I've been through but only with VIP service.

I got asked many fucking times why I was going to Israel by security.

I asked them to not stamp my passport and they didn't.

A British-Indian friend of mine was in Egypt on holiday and wanted to go into Israel for a day trip. She said that immigration put a piece of paper in her passport and stamped it so she could throw it away later. Israeli immigration asked her what her religion was, she’s a Sikh and they had no idea what it was. She had to explain it to them.

Post: #7

i have been the past years to marocco,tunisia &Egypt &Turkey

i will scratch israel from my potential holiday list

Post: #8

I'm planning on training Krav Maga there next year and I can't wait to experience their security procedure; I think it will be fascinating.

At least it's genuine and not a complete sham like boarding every other flight.

Post: #9

Israel is great for travel - if you have a U.S. or U.K. passport I'd highly recommend it. Some observations:

- As others have said, they will double scan your baggage before you board the plane (even in EU airports)
- Don't look like a shitbag liberal. Wear a suit.
- Honesty is the best policy; you'll be grilled with questions, just look the officer in the eye and be upfront.
- Have an itinerary written down; know where you're staying, when, and what you plan on visiting.
- Getting out of the country is harder than getting in.
- The point of questioning is to unnerve you and test your reaction to rapid follow ups (body language, perspiration, etc.)

Post: #10

I flew from Brussels to Tel Aviv a couple of weeks ago and they quizzed me at the check in counter for a good 20 minutes. They went through many of the stamps in my UK passport and asked why I went to those places (Dubai, Morocco, Turkey) who I met there, where I stayed. Then they asked where I worked, how long, what I did, and wanted to see my Belgian ID. After that it was the reason I was going to Israel, proof of my hotel booking, confirmation of the tours I'd booked, who I was meeting, where they were flying from, what they did. It was painful, I started laughing at one point because I wasn't sure if the guy was fucking with me.

When I got through security I had to take my laptop bag to a separate security area, where they spent another 20 minutes checking my phone, ipad and the stuff in my carry on.

I wasn't that impressed with Tel Aviv, it looked a bit run down, graffiti everywhere and very expensive. The women were hot though and very friendly.

Post: #11

Two years ago, I went Barcelona to Tel Aviv, arriving in the queue to check in in Barcelona and was an experience in itself. I was assigned to one agent who would ask for my passport (Mexico) and started asking me random question, why are you going, how long are you staying, do you know anyone there, etc. then he asked if I could open my bag and if he could search it, since I had no option I opened my bag and he went through my clothes. Once cleared, he took my bag put it through a machine which I believe was a bomb detector and I proceeded finally to check in. The entire process took about an hour and a half, for those to be mindful of timetables.

Arriving in Tel Aviv was one of the best experiences of my life, first I was asked my name I answered, then I was asked if I was Jewish, I looked at the woman and said, no I am not Jewish, then she looked at my name and asked me again are you Jewish, again I said no, the funny bit is my first and middle name are David Gabriel!! She then took my passport and asked me to go wait in another area which was surrounded by military personnel.

Upon hearing my name again I was asked by two other military personnel if I was Jewish and they told me my name, I replied again with a bit of a chuckle no I am not fucking Jewish, after another set of questions they let me through.

After the funny security ordeal I went through to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and near the border with Egypt.

Israel is an absolutely beautiful country, the women are absolutely stunning, and once you pass through all of the security and paranoia, you get to know the people who are very friendly outgoing and even met a couple of Jewish Mexicans. Thumbs up for anyone looking to visit, highly recommended.

Post: #12

I wonder what would happen if you said yes. A bar mizwa?

Post: #13

Yes. I had trouble leaving and I'm Jewish. They asked me if I packed my luggage myself and I said No although I did. I was nervous at being questioned. So they grilled me so more and eventually let me go.

Post: #14

I came in through Haifa by boat and never got searched.

I left 7 months later through Ben Gurion airport and got smashed by a search...However the good looking girl taking care of me then walked me into a bomb scare on the way to pay a fine for over staying my visa.

After much apologies I was then escorted to the front of the line, fine was waved and put aboard my aircraft.

I'd go back there in a heart beat and made life long friends there from Australia Europe and Nth America.I still catch up with these guys.All of us are non Jews.

When I left London I had an Israeli shopping bag with me..my plane stopped in Dubai...big mistake walking around an Arab airport with Hebrew script all over a shopping bag.

Post: #15

Quote:When I got through security I had to take my laptop bag to a separate security area, where they spent another 20 minutes checking my phone, ipad and the stuff in my carry on.

Did they check any of the data stored on those devices?

Post: #16

(06-11-2015 06:03 PM)ShawnDom Wrote:  I've been through three times, but for business which makes a big difference.

Coming into the country it helps if you have VIP service. They'll whisk you right through customs/immigration and do all the talking for you in Hebrew.

Leaving you can expect a lot of suspicious glares and frequent passport and visa checks, as well as a very thorough bag check. They even made me pull my charging cables out of my bag so they could check for explosive residue individually. Again a exit letter from my employer and VIP really helped.

The worst part of traveling to Israel is the second bag and security check before you board the plane. This goes for both leaving Newark and Tel Aviv.

Does anyone know if this is true for all airlines, or just El Al?

Also, about the use of multiple passports:

I often do this, but not in countries where it may be a big deal. I have some vague desire to visit both Israel (well Jerusalem and Dead Sea) and...Iran. Jerusalem because I love really old cities and Iran because I have heard good things about it as a tourist destination (No, I'm not joking. Know people who have traveled there on holiday). Of the two passports I'd use one nation is friendly with Israel and unfriendly with Iran, and the other very much the other way around. So for entry I'd obviously use the "friendly" passport in each country.

Now in both Israel and Iran they seem to like to make very detailed searches of personal property. They are obviously going to find out (well at least one of them will) that you have visited their mortal enemy. Won't it be worse trying to hide this fact? For practical and legal reasons I'd have to physically carry both passports on the trip.

Post: #17

(06-17-2015 01:05 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  Of the two passports I'd use one nation is friendly with Israel and unfriendly with Iran, and the other very much the other way around. So for entry I'd obviously use the "friendly" passport in each country.

Now in both Israel and Iran they seem to like to make very detailed searches of personal property. They are obviously going to find out (well at least one of them will) that you have visited their mortal enemy. Won't it be worse trying to hide this fact? For practical and legal reasons I'd have to physically carry both passports on the trip.

Haven't run into this situation and your experience may vary with different agents. I would not lie if asked directly. If the "other" PPwere discovered(and likely opened to the offending stamp) I would answer that my underrstanding of the law is that you do not allow me to visit your country "if the passport I use bears that other country's stamp" and not if "I have ever visited the other country."

Post: #18

Guys

Being an Israeli I can try to explain a few things:
1. Israel is in war with most Arab nations.
2. In the past, there were several terrorist attacks in the airport (although way back).

So, I recommend that you be patient (the process will take time), be honest and explain if you visited and Arab nation and try (if you can) to understand.
It is nothing personal.

Bad Hussar - Iran is not big on having people who have passport stamp of Israel. Suggest you go for the second passport.
Also it is for every airline, no discrimination.
Cheetah - No one checks your laptop content. They want to scan it or that you boot it up and it does not explode.

I invite you to visit and enjoy.

Post: #19

I don't care about it so much because it is effective.

When I went there I managed to get into the country fine without much hassle. Me and my mates were on a bit of a sex vacation and as we were walking through and watching these arabs getting raped by security we repeated what we always say when we are going to the more exotic and interesting countries "man, it is good to be white".

On the way out however.... I almost got a fist up my ass.
I was born in the UK, have lived in Australia since I was like 11 months old, so I tell people I am Australia. I have lived in Norway for the last 3 years and carry a Norwegian ID card.
So yeah it was like "Yeah I'm Australian, here's my British passport, and here is my Norwegian drivers license. No I don't have anything to prove I am from Australia or the UK, I am on Vacation I brought whatever was in my wallet and my passport!"

They just took me into a little room and strip searched me twice whilst about 4 people asked me the same set of questions.

Oh yeah and at some point I said "yeah don't worry, I understand it's your job. Don't worry, I was a soldier just like you, not too long ago. I get it"

So the point is... Don't look like a dodgy fucker.