Jordan keeping out Orthodox Jews
January 19, 2006Jordan is preventing Orthodox Jewish Israelis from entering the country, ostensibly for fear they could be attacked, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.
The announcement came Wednesday as Jordan refused entry to eight Israeli tourists at a border crossing after prayer shawls and other religious items were found.
Foreign Ministry officials told Ha’aretz that Israeli officials have been trying to convince Jordan to change the policy.
[Via JTA]
As I replied on Black Iris, here is my take:
Thousands of Palestinians are denied entry every day into territory that is rightfully theirs via checkpoints and border crossing controls that are controlled by the whims of 18 (or thereabouts) year old IDF soldiers. If Israel and the United States are wise enough to know who should and should not be allowed entry into their countries (as are other countries that reserve the right to deny anyone any type of visa without disclosing the reasons for doing so), then Jordan as well should be trusted to make that kind of decision. ‘Homeland security’ is what it’s all about these days, right? (Although in this case if this story is true, it may have been for the tourists’ security as well).
Having said the above, I can also see the point of saying ‘Ok, why not let them in, and if they don’t like their experience, they will just leave and not come back.’ However, historically, Israelis have not been known to give up that easily, and the presence of Orthodox Jews as tourists is something I’m not sure Jordan is ready for.
Thanks for the post, this one has definitely got me thinking..
Comment by Lulu — January 19, 2006 @ 6:47 PM