Fear, shame and terror at the Israeli border.
On the airplane to Tel Aviv, he encountered Ukrainian journalist Katya. Specifically, she is with me, having spotted a Ukrainian magazine in her hands. Her last name means Chubby, and she also has the appearance of a model.
Katerina imagined herself riding in her friend’s car and being by the sea in an hour. She was advised not to be deceived. Regardless of any suspicions of her being a prostitute, she was not interrogated.
She dismissed the idea. After all, being a journalist is a respected profession. Furthermore, her passport contains a European stamp indicating that she is under protection and can move freely. Additionally, she has a local friend in Israel. Unfortunately, Katya She had to undergo airport checks for 14 hours. And she was not alone. It seems like Israel lets everyone in, but at the same time keeps the border closed. A quick passage through a strict border cordon can be seen as fortunate.
In Israel, there are constant innovations to admire. Not long ago, at the airport, travelers had to drag suitcases into giant scanners. Now, these scanners have been removed. At security control, they no longer confiscate liquids and don’t force you to remove your headphones. The boxes for carry-on luggage come along the conveyor, and an employee assists in packing them. These savings may seem minor, but the queues are getting shorter. There are machines at passport control. I presented my passport – a piece of paper popped out, which allows me to pass through the turnstile. Consequently, instead of rows of booths with border guards on the sidelines, there is only one officer who is ready to help if needed.
However, not everyone can bypass these smart machines. Some faces on the screen are marked with a red cross. In such cases, one needs to go into a side room, where a very young boy is seated. He reviews passports and asks questions. Some fortunate individuals receive their passports back immediately. They are warned not to hand their passport to others. A bearded boy named Shlomi is called upon to accompany the suspicious individuals to the sump. There are several offices. There is a dressing room in front of them, where vending machines with drinks are located. However, Russians would not be able to use these machines, as their cards do not work and there is no place to exchange money. The Israelis have insufficient compassion to install a water cooler. Occasionally, sandwiches are brought, which are placed on one of the armchairs in the adjacent room. In that same room, there is a flea market, and the overseers frequently insist that people return to the zone. Ironically, the overseers themselves organized this flea market. They call people in for interviews, causing individuals in the back rows of seats to crowd closer, fearing that they may miss their turn. This is despite the fact that any institution in the country has a machine with numbers and a display board, not to mention a water cooler.
I approached a group of four people speaking Russian. It turns out they are from Ukraine. After making an inappropriate joke about the language, they nervously switched to speaking Ukrainian. It turns out, they had been sitting in the sump for four hours, despite the fact that this was not their first visit to the country and that everyone here has acquaintances.
Ludmila From Russia. There is an invite from friends, and a certificate from the bank. Although not necessary, the arrangement between Russia and Israel is visa-free. Why did they stop? The last time Lyudmila was in Israel was in 2016. That’s why they asked why she didn’t come for so long, and they brought her here.
In the sump, Russian is mainly spoken, but one cannot talk about discrimination. For two hours, a gray-haired holy father from Italy paces from corner to corner. His companions are being interrogated at this time. What they are suspected of, he does not know. A funny guy Marcelo I came from Argentina to visit my daughter. She is married to a local football league player. The wife flew in two weeks ago and passed without a hitch, but he was slowed down.
And the man waiting for three hours in a wheelchair is generally an Israeli Sergei Trushin (on the picture). He had major brain surgery a year ago. His Russian girlfriend was leaving, now they are flying together from Russia. Never made any violations of the terms of stay. Sergey is extremely excited – it’s hard for him. There is a transfer to another terminal and a flight to Eilat. They wanted to register a marriage. But then covid, then lay in a layer, and marriage with a foreigner is not a procedure for the faint of heart. They will also be dragged under interrogation. I’m afraid the person will die. In addition, covid, flu and other infections have not gone away, but here she is in full expanse.
A visa-free regime is a visa-free regime. It does not suit you – do not enter. And if you have entered, then do not drive half a plane for verification. Moreover, other mechanisms have long been invented
But, it would seem, what kind of questions can there be at all. A visa-free regime is a visa-free regime. It does not suit you – do not enter. For decades, negotiations have been going on on a visa-free regime for Israelis with the States, and still nothing. And if you have entered, then do not drive half a plane for verification. Moreover, other mechanisms have long been invented. Canada introduced them a long time ago, now England is introducing them for the Israelis. On the eve of departure, fill out an electronic questionnaire, pay a small amount. Get confirmation and move on. In some countries there is registration at the place of residence. In Israel, she would work hard: here cooperation with enemies is an extremely rare phenomenon. And you will have to answer strictly if the guarantee does not work.
As a result, all this resembles a joke about a boy who lost money in the bushes, but is looking for them under a lantern, because it is better seen there. South Tel Aviv is choking on illegal migrants. The mafia organized the transfer of Turkish guest workers across the Jordanian border for 5,000 euros apiece. The terrorists are also infiltrating. But they make legally arrived tourists suffer for hours in the sump.
For four hours of observation, I did not notice a single case of deportation. From the offices, exhausted by the long wait, people jumped out with relief. And the future wife of Sergei Trushin, in the end, was not prevented. But let’s leave aside the wide nonsense of filtering. Perhaps, under the guise of old women and disabled people, it is easiest to disguise an insidious enemy? The secret services know better. But it is impossible not to notice with what patience and understanding the countries – its partners in the visa-free regime treat the problems of Israel’s security. I have never seen Israelis being dragged in en masse for inspection in retaliation.
– How are they with the Arabs, if this is the case with us? – I happened to hear in the flea market of the sump. I hasten to join. Arabs are treated very respectfully here. By the way, there was not a single one filtered in Muslim clothes. In general, it is unlikely to find a more hospitable country. Katerina, who prompted me to write this article, met a family in Jerusalem who drove her around the country, and even delivered her to the airport. Where can you find such kindness? But the first impression is always the strongest. Therefore, the tourist power must bring its filtration service to elementary standards. And not her alone.
