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Ask the Noachide
The Noachide:
--- Quote from: Zelhar on March 15, 2012, 05:22:55 PM ---Hello Noachide,
When you entered Israel, did the airport security gave you a "special" treatment due to your ethnic background ? Have you ever encountered special suspicion or alert during security check out in Israel or other airports ?
--- End quote ---
This is a funny and a sad story.
Unexpectedly yes in Ben Gurion airport there was also a Caucasian visitor next to me from England waiting in the outer lobby, so I thought it was no big deal at first as I'm a U.S. citizen.
The funny part is I was catching a nap in that lobby from a jet lag thinking it is not going to be a big deal since I have my Tanakh with me and contact phone numbers from Jewish friends in NYC, then one of the agents approached me and I woke up from that jet lag and said come politely, and went to an office and asked me some general questions like "Is this your first time in Israel?" "Do you know anyone in Israel?" the female agent barely understood me after I showed her contact info from friends.
Then she made a phone call and that's when things were becoming much more serious. I went to the lobby to wait again then was appointed with 2 airport security agents in another room, one nice and one angry. They asked me those two previous questions in addition to what I do for a living and what me decide to come to Israel. Their english was not well spoken but I understood what they were asking.
I said pilgrimage. During the interview I was dozing off a bit lol. They did not buy it. As soon as I said I want to also go to Hebron, the angry agent flinched out of his chair and raised his eyebrows at me LOL, so I showed them my business cards, my holy book, guide book, heavy metal, my laptop, the videos I have with Christian friends along with my story leaving islam and coming Judaism.
It took 3-4 trips going from the lobby to the office waiting about 2 hours until I was frustrated but at the same time did not feel discriminated based on my ethnicity as there were White and Arabs next to me.
If this whole incident was caught on film, I guarantee a handful here would laugh at the funny events.
Zelhar:
So did they try to call anyone from you contact list ? would the treatment you received at the airport prevent you from visiting Israel again ?
The Noachide:
--- Quote from: Zelhar on March 16, 2012, 07:01:22 AM ---So did they try to call anyone from you contact list ? would the treatment you received at the airport prevent you from visiting Israel again ?
--- End quote ---
I guess they called when I handed them my cell phone and charger while I was at the lobby.
Yes the questioning prevents me to visit Israel again. It is too much hassle for me and I have to catch some sleep after long 18 hour flights to any country.
They also questioned me about my visit to countries in India when they saw my Indian visa on my passport and so I told them about that visit.
Other than that, I have no problem with Israelis.
The Noachide:
--- Quote from: Dan Ben Noah on March 15, 2012, 09:48:04 PM ---You know your story of leaving Islam and coming to Judaism would be great for YouTube. You don't see too many Muslims going this route. It would be a great counter to all the propaganda videos that Muslims put out about how stupid people convert to their third world terror cult. You could also mention what draws you to JTF, something like this could potentially get us a lot of publicity. Have you thought of doing something like this?
--- End quote ---
As much I want to inform publicly, I can't because of relatives and fear.
Secondly, I was never a "Muslim". I've been secular my life except I went to a madrassa (school) on a sunday in my young years here.
Never set foot in a mosque or prayed in 20 years.
In fact, if I show you guys my facebook page, I don't look Muslim or Arab.
If you have further questions, ask away.
Zelhar:
The screening process is far from perfect. I nevertheless think profiling is a correct method to use. I think if you do intend to revisit, perhaps one of your friends in Israel could initiate a call himself to the airport security and ask them to be nice.
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