Saudi Arabian Airlines reportedly refuses Israeli passport holders to purchase tickets

[Naim 6]

I think they need to do this, since Israeli passport-holders are not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia, even in transit.

 

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Saudi Arabian Airlines reportedly refuses Israeli passport holders to purchase tickets

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/07/15/saudi-airlines-refuses-israeli-passport-holder-to-purchase-tickets/#ixzz2ZB9wIsI7

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Islamophobia rears its ugly head again.

 

Israelis are well aware that they are unwelcomed in Saudi Arabia and will definitely avoid Saudia like a plague. This is nothing but a cheap ploy by a political candidate to curry favour with his constituents (although to be honest it's not really a favour!)

[Naim 6]

I wonder if an Israeli can book MH from London to Sydney, with a KUL layover. The MH booking engine does list 'Israel', unlike the Saudia site.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

I think it's possible, because since you have not cleared Immigrations you are not considered as being in the country.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

[Mushrif A 3]

Not quite on topic, but related...

 

Anybody ever booked a Kosher meal on MH domestic runs? I wonder what would you get and where the meal was prepared? Freeze-dried and flown all the way from London?

[Cire 0]

In my opinion, the declination to sell the tickets to the Isrealis were more on the sensitivity of other passengers than it was about the airline's policies etc.The fear that chaos could happen due to some Arab passengers having some sensitivity issues or take offence sitting next to an Israelie in the current polticial climate, the declination in my opinion is appropriately done.

[Amirul Mazlan 0]

Typical arabs. So sensitive about anything Israeli but at the same time being US and A's biggest ally in Middle East with weapons almost exclusively supplied by american defense industries.

[Mushrif A 3]

In my opinion, the declination to sell the tickets to the Isrealis were more on the sensitivity of other passengers than it was about the airline's policies etc.The fear that chaos could happen due to some Arab passengers having some sensitivity issues or take offence sitting next to an Israelie in the current polticial climate, the declination in my opinion is appropriately done.

 

"some sensitivity issues or take offence sitting next to..." - mini chaos always happen on full SV domestic flights when an "unrelated" male pax is assigned a seat next to somebody's wife...musical chairs usually ensued.

[Y. J. Foo 0]

Must be slow news days there...

 

Not quite on topic, but related...

 

Anybody ever booked a Kosher meal on MH domestic runs? I wonder what would you get and where the meal was prepared? Freeze-dried and flown all the way from London?

 

There was a post of Kosher meal onboard MH domestic flight in airliners meal thread back in 2008. Unfortunately crappy Imageshack seems to have lost the photos...

http://www.malaysianwings.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=7074&p=163348

[Alif A. F. 0]

Could be the Israeli passport holders are Arab/Palestinian citizen of Israel?

[Johan Z 0]

At least SV is being upfront about that. If you're Arab, Muslim or Indian you will be treated like a criminal by Israeli airport security.

 

http://safety.worldnomads.com/Israel/74625/Israel-Airport-Security-Is-Getting-In-Really-That-Tough

[Izanee 0]

My friend is Palestinian (born in jerusalem) who lives in the uk with a partial Jordanian passport. When he flies in to TLV he is escorted off the plane first, interrogated and bundled off as quickly as possible out of the airport.

He says he feels 'special!' ...

[KK Lee 5]

At least SV is being upfront about that. If you're Arab, Muslim or Indian you will be treated like a criminal by Israeli airport security.

 

http://safety.worldnomads.com/Israel/74625/Israel-Airport-Security-Is-Getting-In-Really-That-Tough

 

Israeli don't have quarrel with Arabs or v.v. Saudi gomen may appear unfriendly to Israel in public but not otherwise. Believe Arabs perceive Iranians have greater threat than Israel.

 

Could be the Israeli passport holders are Arab/Palestinian citizen of Israel?

 

There are Israeli Arabs but not Palestinian.

[zamim 0]

Saudi Airlines defends ban on Israeli passengers

 

The director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Khalid al-Melhem, responded to recent criticisms and threats to ban his airline from U.S. airports for allegedly violating federal law by "discriminating" against Israelis and Jews. He noted there is no political relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel.

“If there is an absence of political relations between [saudi Arabia] and any other country, we will not allow that country’s citizens into the kingdom,” Melhem told Saudi’s Al-Watan newspaper. “[Diplomatic relations] also apply to transit passengers… in case the plane is delayed, the passenger will have to enter the country; and at that point, it would be very difficult to let him into [saudi] if there are no diplomatic relations.”

Earlier this week, New York Public Advocate Bill de Blasio condemned the Saudi airline’s decision not to allow Israelis on board and said that it was “racial discrimination.” He warned that he would work to ensure the Saudi airlines does not land in American airports.

[BC Tam 2]

 

“[Diplomatic relations] also apply to transit passengers… in case the plane is delayed, the passenger will have to enter the country; and at that point, it would be very difficult to let him into [saudi] if there are no diplomatic relations.”

Now that is forward thinking, although a bit pessimistic in nature

 

 

 

He warned that he would work to ensure the Saudi airlines does not land in American airports.

That is so not going to happen, so long as the Kingdom still has active oil wells (or till the Yanks have access to viable alternative energy source)

[KK Lee 5]

Many Israelis hold two or more passports, won't be an issue for them to travel to Saudi or Malaysia. Beside, if needed officially unofficial channel is available for Malaysians Israeli to visit Israel Saudi.

[Mike P 0]

So we can actually fly Israelis Airlines... from BKK?

[Alif A. F. 0]

Many Israelis hold two or more passports, won't be an issue for them to travel to Saudi or Malaysia. Beside, if needed officially unofficial channel is available for Malaysians Israeli to visit Israel Saudi.

Saudi Arabia allows Israeli of Arab descent to enter the country for the purpose of performing the Hajj though.

 

Former DAP man, Tunku Abdul Aziz was perhaps one of the very few Malaysians who managed to enter Israel, though he was there on work visit while working for the UN. He publicised his visit there in a NST column few years back.

[Naim 6]

Now organised tours to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, are commonplace for Malaysians -- see for example, http://www.bahrulmazi.com.my/bmt/?p=1540

 

Even if you go on your own to Jordan, go to the Israel bordering crossing, and a visa can be obtained via fixers, but expect to pay up to US$1k to go to Jerusalem.

[Craig 0]

A little OT, but Israel can issue Malaysians a tourist visa on a piece of paper and they will stamp your entry/exit on a piece of paper too (SOP for immigration at TLV nowadays). The Israeli government are fine with Malaysians visiting Israel. If you keep it on the DL, chances are, the Malaysian government will not know you visited Israel for tourism purposes.

 

So we can actually fly Israelis Airlines... from BKK?

No you can't. Because immigration officials at BKK write your incoming and outgoing flight number on the passport stamp. If they see "LY 82/84", they'll know where you flew to.

Edited July 21, 2013 by Craig

[Mike P 0]

A little OT, but Israel can issue Malaysians a tourist visa on a piece of paper and they will stamp your entry/exit on a piece of paper too (SOP for immigration at TLV nowadays). The Israeli government are fine with Malaysians visiting Israel. If you keep it on the DL, chances are, the Malaysian government will not know you visited Israel for tourism purposes.

 

No you can't. Because immigration officials at BKK write your incoming and outgoing flight number on the passport stamp. If they see "LY 82/84", they'll know where you flew to.

 

So you saying the Thailand Immigration would somehow block Malaysians to fly on LY? Like Malaysia Immigration has worked with Thai's to disallow Malaysian to embark on LY's flight? It doesn't make sense. But I do know now some Malaysians, particularly the christians, are allowed to visit Israel nowadays to fulfil the pilgrim.

[Y. J. Foo 0]

So you saying the Thailand Immigration would somehow block Malaysians to fly on LY? Like Malaysia Immigration has worked with Thai's to disallow Malaysian to embark on LY's flight? It doesn't make sense. But I do know now some Malaysians, particularly the christians, are allowed to visit Israel nowadays to fulfil the pilgrim.

 

I believe he means that Malaysian immigration will know you've been to Israel via El Al by looking at the exit stamps at Bangkok.

 

Those Malaysians going to pilgrim at Jerusalem are likely going via Jordan or Egypt.

[Naim 6]

I believe he means that Malaysian immigration will know you've been to Israel via El Al by looking at the exit stamps at Bangkok.

 

Those Malaysians going to pilgrim at Jerusalem are likely going via Jordan or Egypt.

 

Approved entry into Israel is normally via King Hussein Bridge crossing, just 60km from Amman, Jordan. Now almost anybody can visit Israel via this valid way.

 

And yes, if the Thai immig writes flight # in passport, then that's proof you enter Israel without Malaysian govt permission, and there could be trouble if they knew.

[Mike P 0]

Approved entry into Israel is normally via King Hussein Bridge crossing, just 60km from Amman, Jordan. Now almost anybody can visit Israel via this valid way.

 

And yes, if the Thai immig writes flight # in passport, then that's proof you enter Israel without Malaysian govt permission, and there could be trouble if they knew.

 

Probably the govt will only know while renewing the passport, as one would mostly just utilise the auto gate while entering back into Malaysia. Haha... unless your passport is like fully stamped for all 50 pages and they might just miss those part.

 

Anyway, ain't Malaysian need to apply visa to enter Israel? So they got to go to Singapore or Thailand to apply the visa then. Or there's a VOA?

[Naim 6]

Anyway, ain't Malaysian need to apply visa to enter Israel? So they got to go to Singapore or Thailand to apply the visa then. Or there's a VOA?

 

Most ppl go via authorised agents on package tours -- those agents would take care of permits/visae, dunno how. A friend went alone to the Jordan/Israel border crossing and managed to get his visa from a fixer there, for a stiff fee.