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Jordan - Tourist with Talis & Tefilin Denied Entry to Jordan |
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FILE
They prevented him from crossing the border with his son due to his visibly Jewish identity of a beard, side locks, tefillin, and a prayer shawl.
After initially being stopped by Jordanian authorities at the border crossing near Eilat, the tourist offered to leave the traditional prayer items on the Israeli side, but to no avail.
Upon his return home, the tourist sent a letter of protest to the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv, who responded that security concerns required that travelers entering the Hashemite Kingdom not do so with prayer shawls and phylacteries, they explained that his entry denial is due to a security risk.
When asked if he could visit Jordan in a month’s time, the Jordanian Consulate told him, “No problem. Just leave your tefillin, prayer shawl, and kippah (skullcap) home.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry says that they are aware of the phenomena and reject the security-risk claim.
The Foreign Ministry said that it is aware of prior incidents of this nature, adding that it rejects Jordanian claims that the traditional Jewish prayer items pose a threat to the country.
Three years ago, Jordan prevented Orthodox Jewish Israelis from entering the country for fear they would be the targets of terrorist attacks.
Jordan refused to allow a group of eight Israeli tourists from entering the country after an inspection at the border crossing revealed prayer shawls and phylacteries.
Jordan is one of two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel.
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Read Comments (15) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:12 AM Anonymous Says:
The Arabs are actually right. Tefila is a Jew's best weapon.
2
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:53 AM Handy Says:
The Jordanians would at least sound semi-plausible if they were denying any tourist who brings in a kippa or tfillin or a tallis.
The problem is, that they are only doing that to Israeli citizens. Americans can fly to Amman with all the tfillin they want.
Sounds like more of a "picking on the zionists" rather than any security concern "for their own safety"...
3
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:50 AM Anonymous Says:
I wonts tried the samething with some Buchorim we were sent back but we got a stamp on the passport (that was our goal)
4
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:49 AM Anonymous Says:
Why would one want to risk flaunting their jewishness in a country full of palistinians that would just love to kill jews ???? Such "in your face" conduct is definitely a high security risk. I think they are 100% right on this and it is not at all anti-semitism.
They are not equipped to have bodyguards for these kinds of tourists.
5
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:40 AM Anonymous Says:
I was also banned from entering a few months ago because I was weraing a kippah
6
Jul 10, 2009 at 08:08 AM Anonymous Says:
I don't want to go to a country that doesn't want ME.
7
Jul 10, 2009 at 08:04 AM Anonymous Says:
To be fair, the border police in EY routinely deny entry to Jordanian citizens deemed a security threat without providing any details or evidence of terrorist associations. These quid pro quos will continue until there is a comprehensive peace treaty. As an aside, I'm not sure why yidden need to be supporting the Jordanian economy by visiting there anyway.
8
Jul 10, 2009 at 08:02 AM Anonymous Says:
to #4 That is not the case. People hide there tefillin deep in their bags, there is no reason why it should bother anyone. It's not like they go in wearing their talis and tefillin.
9
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:42 AM Anonymous Says:
“ To be fair, the border police in EY routinely deny entry to Jordanian citizens deemed a security threat without providing any details or evidence of terrorist associations. These quid pro quos will continue until there is a comprehensive peace treaty. As an aside, I'm not sure why yidden need to be supporting the Jordanian economy by visiting there anyway. ”
There are kevarim there. Aharon Hakohen, I believe.
10
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:40 AM syrianfromdeal Says:
Wow. i had some blond blond ashkenaz friends who were israeli too go to jordan a couple of months ago and they took pictures with arabs on the street and everything looked fine in those pictures. you cant get more jewish looking than a blond ashkenazi jew
11
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:35 AM Aqaba-is-great! Says:
i went to jordan several times wearing a cap instead of kippa and carrying tfillin in pants' pockets (one in each) and the tallis alone doesn't catch their attention. jordan is a great country to visit, they don't care if you're jewish or not, just don't show off the israeli-ness or jewishness. the 5-star hotels in aqaba - almost a walking distance from eilat - are superb and inexpensive with separate saunas and jacuzzis, fruit platters for breakfast ke'yad ha'melech, etc, etc.
12
Jul 10, 2009 at 01:14 PM Rippin Pinchas Says:
"Jordan is one of two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel."
Actually, there are 3:
1. Egypt
2. Jordan
3. Mauritiania
13
Jul 10, 2009 at 03:12 PM Liepa Says:
“ "Jordan is one of two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel."
Actually, there are 3:
1. Egypt
2. Jordan
3. Mauritiania ”
Wrong, it's two as in 2, Maritania has good relations with Israel but never signed a peace treaty with Israel, they didn't have to, they were never at war with each other.
14
Jul 12, 2009 at 12:20 AM Anonymous Says:
Just thinking? Would israel be racist if they won't let in a arab with a burque
15
Jul 12, 2009 at 10:39 AM Not just that... Says:
Mauritanian Foreign Minister Ahmed Sid’Ahmed and his Israeli counterpart David Levy signed an agreement in Washington DC, USA, on 28 October 1999, establishing full diplomatic relations with Mauritania, an Islamic country and a member of the Arab League. The signing ceremony was held at the U.S. State Department in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Mauritania joined Egypt and Jordan as the only members of the Arab League to post ambassadors in Israel.
(WikiPedia)