As Harel said, we arrived Tel Aviv today from Chile and Argentina. I was a bit worried because everybody told me stories about the security... and to be honest, it isn't as terrible as you may hear. We only had a basic questioning in Sao Paulo airport about our luggage and then in Ben Gurion they asked us how long are we staying and for what reason. Nothing else, less than two minutes... we didn't even show the copies of the mails.
Sure, it can be different for other nationalities... but if you're coming to Wikimania, there shouldn't be anything to hide nor worry about. 2011/7/29 Harel Cain <[email protected]> > No, James. If anything, then you might find that in TLV (on your way back) > they don't even bother with some of the things that they do check for in the > states, such as that rule about liquids in 100ml containers or asking you to > remove your shoes. > > If you're flying El Al, you will be politely but thoroughly interviewed > before boarding the plane, and your luggage might be searched more > thoroughly than you're used to. Nothing more than that. > > If you're flying with another airline into Israel, even that won't be the > case. > > When flying back, you can expect to again undergo this interview (whether > you packed alone, whether someone gave you anything to bring, where you've > been, that sort of thing) and again they might scan and/or search your > luggage. > > Harel Cain > Wikimania 2011 local team > > On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 22:19, James Hare <[email protected]> wrote: > >> On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 3:10 PM, Deryck Chan <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > A bit more to add about passport stamping (mainly for those holding >> European >> > / north American passports): an English girl (a close friend of mine in >> > Cambridge) who was in Israel last year told me that although the Israeli >> > border control advertises the facility to have a separate piece of paper >> > rather than your passport stamped, in practice they [almost?] always >> refuse >> > that and insist to stamp onto your passport, especially if you're a >> white >> > person from a Western country [apparently especially if you're a young >> woman >> > as well]. No worries though, I'm sure it's easy enough for someone from >> a >> > Western country to apply for a new passport prematurely! >> > >> > She's in Israel again this summer, and other than sternly denying the >> > possibility to not have my passport stamped, is optimistic: "Basically I >> > don't actually think, having thought about it, that there's anything to >> say! >> > Just be prepared for a long wait, and for intensive searches (they took >> > everything out of my bag, both ways), and obviously be very careful >> about >> > carrying anything metal/liquid in your hand luggage. Make sure you know >> what >> > you'd say to 'why are you going to Israel?'." >> >> Anything I should know specifically as a U.S. citizen? (For what it's >> worth, it doesn't bother me if they stamp my passport because my >> passport expires in June 2012 anyway.) >> >> Anything that I should be wary about bringing into Israel that I'd >> normally take for granted as fine in the U.S.? >> >> > >> > Deryck >> > >> > On 30 July 2011 02:54, Deryck Chan <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> Thanks Harel :) >> >> >> >> Background about the Chelsea incident: >> >> >> http://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/07/28/football.chelsea.malaysia.benayoun.abuse/ >> >> >> >> On 30 July 2011 02:51, Harel Cain <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> Deryck, you should be fine. There are many Israelis (some colleagues >> of >> >>> mine, for example) who're flying to Malaysia on business with foreign >> >>> passports. I don't even know what the Chelsea incident is, it didn't >> make >> >>> any headlines over here. >> >>> >> >>> The security questioning is meant to guarantee the safety of air >> travel >> >>> with El Al, which as you may know has been the target of terror back >> in the >> >>> 1970s (and since, to a decreased degree), in other words - it's done >> so you >> >>> can fly safely. El Al is considered the world's most secure airline >> exactly >> >>> because of its unique methods which are based on interviewing the >> passengers >> >>> to detect suspicious passengers, instead of forcing 85 year old >> grannies to >> >>> remove their shoes (TSA method...), which have been in place long >> before the >> >>> 9/11 attacks, for example. >> >>> >> >>> Because you clearly have no terrorist intentions, there's nothing to >> >>> worry about. Just be very patient, answer the questions frankly and >> openly, >> >>> and they'll let you in. They won't fly out without you :) >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Harel Cain >> >>> Wikimania 2011 local team >> >>> >> >>> On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:43, Deryck Chan <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> >>>> I'm flying from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv on an El Al flight, holding a >> >>>> British passport with a Malaysian stamp from this January (along with >> a few >> >>>> other stamps from USA, Taiwan and Japan from previous years). >> >>>> >> >>>> I never thought Malaysia would be an issue other than some >> questioning >> >>>> by the El Al and Israeli border control, until the Chelsea incident >> this >> >>>> week made Israel-Malaysia relations somewhat tenser than usual, as >> I've >> >>>> heard. >> >>>> >> >>>> I doubt that in my case the "formal" letter would make any >> difference: >> >>>> the automated email has our name and personal itinerary printed on >> it, so if >> >>>> that doesn't get me through, I doubt any other paperwork from WMIL >> will... >> >>>> >> >>>> On 30 July 2011 02:29, Harel Cain <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Unless you come from a potentially problematic country (for example >> one >> >>>>> which doesn't have diplomatic relations with Israel, or just one >> which is >> >>>>> rather exotic for incoming tourism), the printout of the automated >> mail you >> >>>>> got from us should be fine, and even that shouldn't be necessary. >> It's just >> >>>>> something you can show during the security questioning, which >> normally >> >>>>> occurs only on El Al flights. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> We prepared personalized "formal" letters of invitation upon request >> >>>>> for quite a few people. However I'm rather disinclined to prepare >> more and >> >>>>> more of them. If you are from the USA or the EU or other Western >> countries I >> >>>>> really think they're not necessary. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> These things are really a matter of chance - I heard the one >> attendee >> >>>>> from Czech Republic had a few problems (everything is fine, nothing >> >>>>> serious), while the South Americans went through everything without >> any >> >>>>> problem at all. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Please seriously consider if you really need them before asking for >> >>>>> such personalized letters (requests please send to one of the OTRS >> queues). >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Harel Cain >> >>>>> Wikimania 2011 local team >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 20:08, Deryck Chan <[email protected]> >> >>>>> wrote: >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> ...and how many copies of each! >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> On Jul 30, 2011 1:07 AM, "Laura James" <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>>>>> > Hi, thanks for the great advice - yes, please do let us know >> which >> >>>>>> > document >> >>>>>> > would be the most helpful to print. And any other tips! :-) >> >>>>>> > Thank you, >> >>>>>> > Laura >> >>>>>> > >> >>>>>> > On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 8:17 AM, Kim Bruning < >> [email protected]> >> >>>>>> > wrote: >> >>>>>> > >> >>>>>> >> On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 07:49:31PM +0900, KIZU Naoko wrote: >> >>>>>> >> > Hi from Tel Aviv suburb. >> >>>>>> >> > >> >>>>>> >> > I strongly recommend to follow Manuel. Also the letter from >> the >> >>>>>> >> > organizing team may help. >> >>>>>> >> > >> >>>>>> >> > At security check in AMS I met difficulty , since then I left >> all >> >>>>>> >> > the >> >>>>>> >> > copy of registration team and also had no copy. >> >>>>>> >> >> >>>>>> >> > document on my registration to the confenrence or a document >> from >> >>>>>> >> > WMF. >> >>>>>> >> >> >>>>>> >> Hmm, good point, what document would be handiest to print out? >> >>>>>> >> (I'll check >> >>>>>> >> my mail) >> >>>>>> >> >> >>>>>> >> -- >> >>>>>> >> [Non-pgp mail clients may show pgp-signature as attachment] >> >>>>>> >> gpg (www.gnupg.org) Fingerprint for key FEF9DD72 >> >>>>>> >> 5ED6 E215 73EE AD84 E03A 01C5 94AC 7B0E FEF9 DD72 >> >>>>>> >> >> >>>>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>>>> >> Wikimania-l mailing list >> >>>>>> >> [email protected] >> >>>>>> >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >>>>>> >> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >> >>>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list >> >>>>>> [email protected] >> >>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >>>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> -- >> >>>>> Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >> >>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list >> >>>>> [email protected] >> >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >>>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> Wikimania-l mailing list >> >>>> [email protected] >> >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >>>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> -- >> >>> Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur. >> >>> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >>> Wikimania-l mailing list >> >>> [email protected] >> >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >>> >> >> >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Wikimania-l mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> > >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> James Hare >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimania-l mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> > > > > -- > Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur. > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >
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