Israel stamp when sole destination

I am considering travelling to Israel for the first time around NYEve 2008 from France.
I searched the forum and could not find a clear answer to my questions:

1) is it possible to ask the Israeli immigration officers that your passport is not stamped and to get a separate paper stamp IF I DO NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE PLANS TO TRAVEL A COUNTRY DENYING ENTRY TO ISRAELI STAMP HOLDERS (e.g. Syria)? In other terms, unlike other backpackers, I am not making a tour in the Middle East and I am going to Israel only for this trip. I will consequently not be able to justify my request of a separate paper stamp (upon arrival at Tel Aviv international airport) by evidencing that I am heading to Syria or Lebanon right afterwards. This being said, I love traveling and I may well decide to go to Iran or Syria next year. I would like to know how to guarantee that I will not be limited in my future trips.

2) I understood from some posts and answers that recently, since apparently 2007, the immigration officers in Israel are less willing to put the stamp on a separate paper. Can someone confirm so? (I understood that in all case, there is no guarantee, but I m trying to assess the chances)

I should add I went to Egypt few months ago (not a pbl if I understand correctly). I also have a US visa (I say so not in relation to Israel but cos you may know that if I have a US visa, I will be denied entry in some Arab countries anyawy).
thank you for your help.

Hi there

1) Yes and its quite common

Egypt is no issue.

Hope this helps

You don't have to justify onward travels when you enter Israel, but there are no guarantees with the visa stamp. Although the Israeli officials are most likely to accede to your request (and sometimes you get the loose-leaf stamp without even asking), there have been reports on this forum that passports have been stamped despite a request not to.

However you will still have an exit stamp from the country you arrived from and if you entered Israel by land (ie: from Egypt or Jordan), the Syrians will still know you visited Israel by looking at the border stamp from either of these two countries, and they will not let you in.

There is a way around this but it is not foolproof - if you cross at the King Hussein/Allenby bridge from Jordan, you will not be stamped out by the Jordanians or in by the Israelis (probably - but ask all the same). As long as you return to Jordan by the same route and within the life of your Jordanian visa, you should be okay.

If all else fails and you get the Israeli stamp... all you have to do is get a replacement passport when you want to travel to Syria or Iran etc. Just look on it as part of the cost of visiting that particular country, just as buying really warm clothing is part of the cost of visiting Alaska.

It's more likely they'll NOT stamp it if you're on a return flight from the US - but as turtle-anne says its not definate. They may ask you why you don't want it to be stamped and be honest - you travel and don't know where you'll go in the future!

Israeli border officials understand that very well. I have never been asked to justify that request but as Genya says, just be honest with them. I was in Israel last year and there was no hesitation in giving me a loose-leaf stamp. I crossed from Jordan at Eilat and it was quick and easy at both border posts. In any case, enjoy your visit to Israel. It is a great place to visit. Your previous visit to Egypt is not a problem at all.

What is the point of asking Israel not to stamp your passport, since you will get an exist passport stamp from either Egypt or Jordan (except the Hussein bridge)? It will still be obvious that you entered Israel due to this, correct?

I flew into Israel a month ago and asked for my passport not to be stamped woman at immigration appeared not to care and stamped a peice of paper. I then had to give this peice of paper in to another woman 5 metres away. Given it was 5 in the morning I didn't really care. A couple of days later I took a guided tour to Bethlehem and Jerihco. My guide couldn't believe my passport wasn't stamped at all and thought I would have problem getting into and out of the West Bank and when leaving Israel. This proved not to be the case though as at airport on the way out no one mentioned it (it does though take a long time to get through security though if you are a foreigner so turn up early).

There was one down side though to not having any form of stamp. I rented a car from Avis for 5 days in Jerusalem. I was asked if I was a tourist I said yes, but as there was no stamp in my passport the woman would not allow me to save the 20% tax on the car rental despite me clearly not being Israeli (I am ablonde, english catholic who doesn't speak Hebrew). So if you are planning to rent a car try and get a stamp on a seperate peice of paper.

{quote}What is the point of asking Israel not to stamp your passport, since you will get an exist passport stamp from either Egypt or Jordan (except the Hussein bridge)? It will still be obvious that you entered Israel due to this, correct? {quote}
OP is not exiting the country by land.

{quote}cos you may know that if I have a US visa, I will be denied entry in some Arab countries anyawy{quote}
This I have never heard before.

Naugastyle,

What if hypothetically, one were to travel via land border...Egypt, Israel, and Jordan give BOTH entry AND exit stamps, correct?

I have not been to the Middle East yet, but I would like some confirmation on this for future travels.

#8

You MAY ask Israel not to stamp your passport at these crossings but, as both the Jordanians and Egyptians will DEFINITELY stamp your passport (evidence of having been to Israel), the existence or non-existence of the Israel stamp itself becomes irrelevant. The exception: The Jordanians will NOT stamp your passport at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crossing.

Thank you for your answers
I look forward to my trip in Israel
BR

OP and #9 Another tangent to the evidence of travel to Israel question: I crossed at the Sheik Hussein Crossing on Thursday 18 December and I was asked did I want my passport stamped. I was also asked the same question on the Israel side. It is not an issue since I got a second passport specifically to allow me to do this trip: Jordan/Israel/Jordan/Qatar/Sydney and possibly travel to Libya and Tunisia next year on my other passport.