Prefer Jewish News on Google
Approximately 250 people denied entry to Israel in 2018
Security services stopped a fraction of Israel's 2 million tourists from coming in, with the majority of those blocked being of the Islamic faith
Israel’s security services have denied entry to approximately 250 people since the beginning of 2018.
According to The Times of Israel, which cited Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, the majority of those blocked by the Shin Bet were “Muslims, or were in the process of becoming Muslims,” although some were Christians. Many were suspected of involvement in terrorism or espionage, the report said.
More than 2 million tourists visited Israel in the first half of this year.
The report comes amid a series of high-profile incidents involving American Jews being detained and questioned at Ben Gurion Airport, the latest involving the prominent Iranian-American writer Reza Aslan earlier this week.
Aslan took to Twitter to describe an alleged attempt by security personnel to threaten and intimidate him upon landing in Israel. He tweeted that he was inspired to share his story after seeing the public outrage over a similar incident that occurred when Peter Beinart, a prominent liberal Zionist journalist and commentator, was interrogated at the Tel Aviv airport.
Describing what came next as reminiscent of “police states,” Aslan said that a female Shin Bet agent threatened him, asking him if he thought that “because you’re a public person I can’t do whatever I want with you?”
In a statement, the Shin Bet said that Azlan was a “foreign national who was born in Iran” who had engaged in behaviour that had “raised suspicions.”
Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber has asked the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, to clarify the reasoning behind its actions, which have been a source of controversy both domestically and abroad. Her investigation follows a complaint by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. Zilber plans on chairing a meeting on the issue in September.
Listen to the latest episode of the Jewish Views Podcast!
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
