Being deported

[ajb3000]

In doing my research for a possible trip to the middle east, I discovered (according to the foreign office) that when leaving Israel, they may deport you back to your country of residence if you've been to the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. Now, being the inquisitive person I am, I would want to visit both these places while there. According to my current action plan, Israel would be my penultiment location anyway, so from that perspective being deported wouldn't be the end of the world, but what else would it mean? What is the process? Would it cost me anything? Would it cause problems in the future?

[omisan]

You'd probably never be able to go back to Israel, and you'd have to pay whatever the change fee for your plane ticket is... which could be full price because it'd be a short-notice flight.

Considering the pull-out of Gaza just happened, it's pretty much a no-man's land for the time being, so I don't know if there's much to see right now, nor if it's even accessible, as the army has closed access to the area while they roust out the last of the settlers.

[xanthuos]

Visiting Israel would be incredible, and it's something (a tour of a few middle eastern countries) that I'm working on for fall of next year. I wouldn't risk deportment just to be inquisative, however.

From the State Department website:

Occasionally, the Government of Israel has not admitted individual American citizens or groups who have expressed sympathy with the Palestinian cause, sought to meet with Palestinian officials, or intended to travel to areas in the West Bank or Gaza.

Except during periods of heightened security restrictions, most U.S. citizens may enter and exit the West Bank on a U.S. passport, but only with an Israeli entry stamp placed in the passport at the port of entry.

I believe the current situation in Gaza qualifies as "heightened security restrictions" The West Bank, however, seems to be accessible.

[xanthuos]

I mispelled inquisitive because I'm a dolt.

Also, I left out something - if you are a Palestinian American, have an Arab surname, etc...the above guidelines pretty much mean nothing. I'd just recommend not going. The hassle may not be worth it.

[TheJake]

there is an organization called Christian Peacemakers that has even had a few of their humanitarian workers get killed by israeli bulldozers when they were trying to defend palastian homes.

I totally wish I was there standing in front of the dozers with em...