I didn't say it about Israelis, the post was specifically about Jews. As far as Israeli stamps in your passport go: A) You don't have to stamp your passport. B) We are talking about the Arab world here. It's illegal in a few Arab countries. Again, this is a political issue. You have a stamp from what is considered an illegal occupation of an Arab country, whether we agree with that notion or not. You're allegedly a lawyer, you understand. It's so silly that if you had a new passport with new pages they wouldn't even give a F to check. C) Practically, it's a myth. No one cares except Saudi and Lebanon. When it comes to Israelis coming here with an Israeli passport, yeah that's not allowed. I am not allowed to go to Israel (by Israel) either. It's a diplomatic problem which goes both ways.
Well I was just truthfully saying what my wife feels and have argued against it.. She has gone to a couple of the demos I mentioned and the fear is part political since you always hear stories of the Israeli airport personnel freaking out if somebody has been critical of Zionism. She is also afraid I might speak out, but frankly I would be scared to do much of that.as I have no desire to wind up like the guy in the original article. As an aside we have comfortably travelled independently in much of Europe,including Turkey about five countries in Asia and quite a bit in Mexico and Central Aemerica.
Go to Venezuela - beautiful country - if you go with an open mind, it will change your radical political views. Go to Israel - beautiful country - if you go with an open mind, it will change your radical political views.
A middle east thread without Nook reminded us that he's gotten his dick wet at some point...and by ME women at that??
Miko Peled who grew up in a prominent Israeli family commented on how he finally realized that the prohibition of Israelis going there was the policy, largely successful of keeping much of the Israelii population from seeing the true extent of their brutality to the Palestinians. mikopeled.com
If thats the case, I'm sorry but it comes off as disturbing my friend, that you feel compelled to insert ---> random ME vagina in anything that relates to the region when you could simply say you are married to a ME women as some sort of validation to your opinion on the subject.
The Israeli customs official will almost always not stamp your passport if you ask. (although they're quick on the trigger so make sure you ask immediately) Also , if you have a Syrian or Lebanese passport stamp, you'll get grilled for 3 hours by the Israelis. Always do Israel first and make sure you dont get the stamp. My recommendation is fly into Israel, avoid the stamp, take a bus to Eilat and hit up the beach for a day or two before you want to leave and then walk across the Jordanian border. You can fly out of Aqaba, Jordan and go to the city that you want in the Middle East. Although make sure you go and see Petra first. Can't even describe how awesome that place is to see. You can also camp out with the Bedouins for a day if you want.
Israeli boot lickers? No... not even close. Israel has issues like every other single country. I do not agree with many of the foreign policy decisions made by Israel. However the idea that a "relatively dark Latina woman" should be frightened to travel to Israel is silly, when compared to many other parts of the world....... throw in veiled references to Jewish the OP doesn't trust and you have absurdity...... especially coming from the man that to this day will defend Chavez' reign in Venezuela.... a nation that has been off and on considered the most insecure nation in the world... a nation where 98% of crimes are not prosecuted by their own admission.... it is a cesspool. Yet... my "relatively dark Latina wife" is afraid to go to Israel. Give me a break....... just say you hate Israel and get on with it.
What hatred is that? Are you schizophrenic? You seem unaware of the display you regularly put on this board.
The context was visiting Israel, not a comparison of Israel v the rest of the region. Someone that knows what Israel has perpetrated in the name of Zionism probably has good reason to have trepidation about going there. Israel's reputation is well earned.
No its not. Its paranoia. I feel a hell of a lot safer in Israel than most countries in the world. Like I said, unless you plan on joining protesters in the West Bank, I have no idea why you'd be worried about visiting Israel. It's a regular country like any other place. And as a tourist, going to the West Bank is as easy as walking to the other side of the old city to the Palestinian bus station and catching a bus to Ramallah. On the way back, you do the same except the IDF will board the bus and verify that everyone is allowed to cross back. The whole thing takes 30 seconds. This is utterly ridiculous fear. Leave your personal thoughts out and just visit the country and be respectful. The people there are very nice (both Israelis and Palestinians). Honestly I feel way more uncomfortable in small towns in East Texas than I'd ever feel in Israel or the West Bank (minus the settlements, the settlers are truly nuts. Stay the hell away).
Well I knew it would be controversial. I suspect the same issues were present in South Africa back in the day. People act like that it was perfectly ok for the Israelis to treat that African American that way because he has some issues with their mistreatment of the Palestinians. Hey I understand that other not so great countries act the same way. Thanks for the info re being a tourist. I felt the same way that as long as I did not shoot my mouth off or act "disrespectful toward any harassment of Palestinians I might see" if I left the touristy or Israeli only parts that things that would be ok. My wife is stubborn and afraid so we will probably not wind up going there.
Well I knew it would be controversial. I suspect the same issues were present in South Africa back in the day. A lot of you act like that it was perfectly ok for the Israelis to treat that African American that way because he has some issues with their mistreatment of the Palestinians. Hey I understand that other not so great countries act the same way. Thanks for the info re being a tourist. I felt the same way that as long as I did not shoot my mouth off or act "disrespectful toward any harassment of Palestinians I might see" if I left the touristy or Israeli only parts that things that would be ok. My wife is stubborn and afraid so we will probably not wind up going there.
So other than exercising free speech in an alleged democracy, you have nothing to worry about? Its a great place, just watch what you say. I don't think it's paranoid at all to have an informed opinion on Israel's history and what they do and have done in subjugating people. It's not a regular country like any other place. Regular countries don't have fifty year old occupations. Regular countries don't study rationing the calories of those whose land they occupy. I don't think it's possible to leave your personal thoughts out of making personal decisions and you can't separate the disgusting actions of a government with how you feel about visiting. South Africa was probably a beautiful place for the right people to visit during apartheid.
