Fear, shame and horror of the Israeli border
On the plane to Tel Aviv, he met Ukrainian journalist Katya. More precisely, she is with me, having seen a Ukrainian magazine in her hands. Her surname translates as Chubby, and at the same time her appearance is model.
Katerina dreamed of how she would get into her friend’s car and in an hour would be by the sea. Advised not to be fooled. No matter how they suspected a prostitute in her and did not begin to interrogate.
She waved it off. After all, a journalist is a respected profession. And in the passport there is a European stamp stating that she is under protection and can move freely. Plus in Israel there is a local girlfriend. Alas, Katya I had to go through the check at the airport within 14 hours. And she is not alone. Israel seems to let everyone in, but at the same time keeps the border shut. And a quick passage through a strict border cordon can be considered happiness.
In Israel, you constantly admire innovations. Not so long ago, at the airport, you had to drag suitcases into the vents of giant scanners. Now they have been removed. At security control, they don’t take away liquids and don’t force you to take out your headphones. The boxes for carry-on luggage come along the conveyor, and the employee helps you pack them. The savings seem to be a second, but the queues are shrinking. Machines at passport control. I attached my passport – a piece of paper popped out, on which you pass through the turnstile. As a result, instead of rows of booths with border guards on the sidelines, there is only one officer ready to help if necessary.
But bypass these smart machines, not all. Some faces on the screen are crossed out with a red cross. In this case, you need to go into the side room, where a very young boy is sitting. He looks at passports, asks questions. Some who are lucky get them back immediately. Do not give your passport to others. Calls a bearded boy named Shlomi, who accompanies the suspicious to the sump. There are several offices. In front of them is a dressing room, where there are vending machines with drinks. But the Russians will not be able to use them. Cards do not work, and there is nowhere to change money. The Israelis don’t have enough sympathy to put a water cooler. From time to time they bring sandwiches and dump them on one of the armchairs in the next room. There is the same flea market as in the dressing room, and the overseers now and then sharply order to return to the zone. But the overseers themselves organized this flea market. They call for an interview, people are afraid not to hear from the back rows of seats, which is why they crowd closer. This is despite the fact that in any institution in the country there is a machine with numbers and a scoreboard where they are displayed, not to mention a water cooler.
I approach a group of four people who speak Russian. It turns out they are from Ukraine. After my inappropriate joke about the language, they frightenedly switch to Ukrainian. As it turns out, they have been sitting in the sump for four hours. Despite the fact that this is not the first time in the country and everyone here has acquaintances.
Ludmila From Russia. There is an invitation from friends, and a certificate from the bank. Although not required, the regime 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 speak of 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 unhindered, 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 underwent 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.
