Israel takes the security of its people and nation very seriously. So, you will experience a very heightened security check-in or more when you fly to or even out of Israel. Here is some information Mrs. Voegtlin found and expanded to help you prepare for your trip.
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL THEY ASK?
First up, if you have a Muslim-sounding name, or have visas from Islamic countries
in your passport, you are likely to face a tough round of questioning.
On your way into Israel, you will be asked repeatedly why you are traveling and
whom you know in the country. You could try and have answers ready for this. If
you have hosts (our guide) in Israel, make sure you know their name and have their contact details. (Erez Berkovitz +972-54-538-2044 or locally 054-538-2044, Mark Sugarman +972-52-286-4272 or locally 052-286-4272, and Eitan Chamberlain
+972-50-715-2575) They might be called to validate this information. If you will be
staying in a hotel, have the reservation details, and think of an answer for why
you’re going. “Just to travel around” isn’t a terrible answer, if it’s the truth, but will
probably lead to many more questions. If you’re traveling on your own, you
might be more thoroughly questioned.
Single men traveling alone can also attract a lot of questions but if you have a
partner with you the questioning should be less intensive. Couples are treated as
being less “suspicious” than lone male travelers (or groups of males).
If you have traveled to Israel recently on a previous occasion, you may be asked
why you’ve chosen to return so soon. The more often you go to Israel, the more
suspicious you may seem to officials, so you may be questioned for a longer period
on frequent trips.
You will almost certainly be asked for the details of where you plan to stay. If you’re
heading for a hotel or hostel, you may need to show your booking confirmation.
And if you’re heading to a friend’s or family, you may be required to provide the
life-story of the friend/family in question!
Some of the questions may also appear totally irrelevant, such as “What school did
you go to?”, and they may be asked repeatedly by different personnel. But the aim
here is to see if you’re consistent with your story and aren’t stumbling or fluffing
answers. Your body language will also be carefully scrutinized.
And just so you know, when leaving Israel that barrage of questioning may also
occur once again… On the way out of Israel, you might be asked what you did in the country. Again, stay calm, and tell the truth (you haven’t done anything wrong!).
Add an extra hour to your check-in time if you’re worried about not having time to
check out the duty-free shops…
BOARDING YOUR FLIGHT THAT ARRIVES IN ISRAEL
DO NOT wait to the last minute to show up at your gate. There will be another
security process to go through at the gate before boarding the plane. This is done
by Israel. They will check your passports, ask you questions, and possibly open or
scan your carry-on luggage. The gate area is secure and once you go through the security you should be prepared to stay there. If you must leave, take your things
because you will go through the security again to get back in the area.
OUR TOP TIP
Be honest, be honest, be honest! If you’re a genuine tourist, you have absolutely
nothing to worry about.
And stay cool – those immigration guys are only doing their job! The main thing to
remember is not to stress about this whole process. Nothing is personal, it’s just
their job and the security is for the better. You should tell the truth, remain relaxed
and really treat it no differently to if you were in any other country – most people
have absolutely no problem, and even if you do get asked questions, it doesn’t
mean that you are a suspect or anything bad! Stay calm, remember you have
nothing to hide, and treat it like an experience.
At border control your passport won’t be stamped. Instead, you’ll get a small ticket, and this is because you may experience problems in some Muslim countries if they see that you have been to Israel. So, in order to avoid difficulties in the future, your passport isn’t stamped. But you’ll need to keep the ticket until you fly back: this is important.
Usually, people are in a rush to pick up their luggage and they miss the information desk run by the Ministry of Tourism stationed in the middle of the hall. You can ask for information and get free maps here.
Here are videos that talk you through arriving and departing the airport. Once you
arrive in Israel and get through customs you will look for the Voegtlins and we will
load the bus.
Arrival Video: (sorry about the music) = In the video it says you will exit the airport,
but we will meet you once you go through customs.
Come and See 