Israeli security

I was not a welcome visitor in the Israeli government’s eyes.

I had no problems entering the country, but upon leaving, I was questioned and searched for 2 hours. Questions from airport security personnel included: When did you arrive? Have you been here before? Where did you go? Hebron?! (Tourists don’t ever go here) Where did you stay there? Did anyone invite you into their home? Did anyone give you something to take back with you? What church did you say you travelled with? Where’s the rest of your group you were with? (Traveling alone is suspicious) Do you have a camera? Can I see a picture of your group? Can I look at your pictures as you scroll back to the group one?

Apparently some of my answers put up some red flags. I was questioned by 3 different people, often asking for the same information in different ways. Every item in my bags was taken out and thoroughly searched 2 or 3 times (I observed many other people just being shooed through security). Looking at my things that I had purchased in the West Bank, I would be asked things like, “so are you a fan?” (implying a fan of Palestine) Since I was seen with suspicion, I also gained a personal escort through the entire process (not complaining about this, though!). I was taken up to counters where most other people were in line under a normal heading, and I was led to the aisle labeled high security. I was taken to another room to undergo a full body search. I was allowed to keep most of my clothes on, but underwent a thorough (often repetitive) body pat/search.

Even though this was an uncomfortable experience, I really didn’t mind having my belongings searched or even my body because those are relevant to preventing a person taking a bomb onto the plane. I did mind, however, that the selection process for who to search this thoroughly is based on discrimination against the Palestinian community. Also, I was bothered by many of the questions because they often crossed the line of relevant information into racist, suspicious, and invasive information. For example, no way would I give them names of Palestinians I met or stayed with. Nor did I reveal the entire nature of my visit. I was truthful, but gave no more information than asked. For example, when asked why I am here, I would respond, “I was with a Christian group touring the holy sites.”

Our delegation leaders were barred from entering the country and banned for 10 years.

When our 2 delegation leaders arrived at the airport in Tel Aviv, one of them (white male) was stamped to go on through, but he waited for his co-leader to get cleared. She is an American citizen, but has an Egyptian last name. Because of her last name, they asked her questions like, Who is your father? Where is he from? She was quickly taken aside for more questioning. The other delegation leader stayed with her in the hopes of alleviating suspicion and helping her case since he is white. Unfortunately, it did not work that way. They were both then subjected to 12 hours of questioning and searching. This included an internet search, discovering online evidence of their sympathy with Palestinians. In the end they were both deported and banned from entry for the next 10 years.

CPT quickly put a CPTer who was already in Palestine in their place to fill in as our delegation leader, and she did a wonderful job. We are hoping for the day when peacemakers will be welcomed into conflict areas instead of banned.

[This is one of their accounts in her own words: http://somecreativeactions.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-was-is-all-for.html]