Going into Israel via Jordan and coming back out!

[JoeSheffer]

Hi there,

Wondering about the logistics of this. WIll be going RTW and in Jordan in 2008 march. I would like to enter Israel via the Jordanian land border but i will travel in Iran later in the year.

Can i avoid getting the Israeli stamp in my passport for definate? Is it worth carrying a second passport whcih i can use simply for getting in and out of Israel.

I want to spend 2 weeks or so there just to recoup from north africa and meet some friends.

Has anyopne does this before. Any found the Israeli soldiers to be arsey and stamp merrily away anyway.

[Sheikyabooty]

This is pretty simple really when you go into Isreal just get them to stamp a piece of paper that is stapled into your passport. Once you have finished your visit rip it out and there you have it. This was the case when I visited a few years back!

In relation to the soldier problem, i always have problems getting into Isreal that has to do with my heritage though, but alemby bridge which crosses from jordan to Isreal can be a bit of a bugger in terms of waiting.

[beddhist]

I have read that the Jordanian exit stamp gives the game away. You may have to smudge it before hitting Iran, as well as the Egyptian entry stamp.

[Dagge]

On the Aqaba border crossing there was an option to use a different stamp without the location. you need to ask for it before starting the entry procedure.
Don't know if a wrong stamp would prevent entry though, I went to Syria/Saudi several times with that stamp in my passport without problems.

[brettsyoung]

This whole process has never been very reliable. To guarantee no dramas (and assuming you are going into Israel and out again through Jordan) it's best to get a second passport. The Jordanians are happy to stamp the second passport in and out, as are the Israelis, and no-one will be the wiser. There can be problems getting a second passport but most countries are sympathetic to this issue. For 100 bucks you have insurance against it all going pear-shaped.

Then again, if you decide to take the chance with one passport and you end up with a stamp in your passport you'd rather not have, and you have the time, then just apply for a new passport at your embassy in Amman. You can do Aqaba, Rum Wadi and Petra while it's being processed. The only problem being all your visas might be in the old one.

If you are cruising through airports you are often ok. But nothing is surer than someone on a motorcycle at a border crossing getting that little extra bit of scrutiny.

cheers
Brett

[Lars]

Just found this:

"I'm just back home from trip in Middle East:
1) I entered Israel from Jordan via King Hussein/Allenby bridge: Jordans don't stamp passport but seperate paper (I asked them to, but I don't know if they do it automaticly) ; Upon demand Israeli's did'nt stamp my passport, but seperate paper (They only ask "Why you don't want me to stamp your passport?", upon which I replied : "I'm travelling around, you know...")
2) I went to Egypt via Eilat and went back to Israel the same way; upon demand no stamps...
3) I went back to Jordan via Allenby bridge; upon demand no stamps..."

from Middle East FAQ thread - Thorn Tree Forum - Lonely Planet

(post No 23)

But: Will the stamp-trick work with a Carnet as well? Does Israel require a Carnet? Can I cross the Allenby bridge on a motorbike or is it pedestrians only?

Lars

[JoeSheffer]

Israel does not require a carnet for vehicles.

But surely will my carnet not be stamped coming out of Jordan with a location as i leave and then be stamped again when i return to Jordan?

[brettsyoung]

I just tore the stubs out. As long as you have a stamped stub in and out of Jordan you shouldn't have a problem. I can't remember if each page was sequentially numbered - I don't think they were.