Traveling to Israel with palestinian name

We are a gay couple and my partners father was palestinian and he holds a palestinian name but is German (born here) and doesn't even speak arabic i.e. has no connection to his father family who are living in Cairo and Australia. Could this be a problem entering Israel? I think not but he is a bit worried.

What's his name? Are there specific Palestinian names?

If he has an Arabic name he could be from any of the dozens of Arab countries, not?

If he has an Arab last name he may be questioned. Odds are if this happens it will be only 1 or 2 extra questions. The important thing to remember is that he answer what he is asked respectfully and honestly. If they ask a second question that seems nonsensical or repetitive, you answer honestly and respectfully. Do not be surprised if they ask you to step aside.

BTW the fact that you are gay is absolutely meaningless. Unlike neighboring countries Israel doesn't care. --and in fact has a whole campaign to encourage gay travel to Tel Aviv.

BUT--most important--even though I wrote the first paragraph-odds are nothing will be said and you'll be allowed entry 1-2-3.

Family, second and third name are very common in Lebanon and Palestine. We travel a lot and people in Hotels etc. - when you show passports - notice this sometimes and then the usual questions rise up. Well, I thought we might get quicker through if we say we are a married couple.

It would make no difference if you are married or not. Each person ( even each 1/2 of a couple) is granted entry on their own merit. BTW if you are really married that is one thing. BUT, if you are just saying it and are not really married-(even if you think of yourselves as a couple and live as if you were married) -don't lie, if they sense you are lying ( and they ARE good) then they will be verifying everything else you say. Remember what I wrote earlier--HONEST!!

Gay Isarel, funny tourism commercial: http://youtu.be/Z8pQNYZk4WE

But keep in mind that Jerusalem is not Tel-Aviv and Orthodox Jews are offended by homosexuality, because according to Jewish law it's a sin. The hatred of homosexuality is inherent in Jewish Orthodoxy.

In the past gay marches in Jerusalem were disturbed by Orthodox Jewish protesters, gays were called donkeys and some gays were even stabbed.

http://youtu.be/5CXieRXYrEI

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Jerusalem-s-gay-pride-marchers-attacked-3-2624466.php

The world is not simply black or white and Israel is no exception.

No one is going to bother you in Jerusalem if you are gay! --If you are walking down the street making out--yeah, you become a target, but I doubt that is in your game plan. I know gays who live in Jerusalem and gays who visit Jerusalem. A parade is different than an individual. The people who committed the crimes during the parade were arrested and charged. It is a crime--in Jerusalem too.

One-fifth of all Israelis are Arabs, and therefore presumably have Palestinian names. This in itself won't raise any eyebrows. Israel doesn't deny entry to anyone based solely on their ethnicity, race, whatever you want to call it, religion, where they or their parents were born, or where they have been. You might be asked some questions, which you must answer truthfully and politely, no matter how silly or irrelevant they may seem. As long as you are visiting Israel for tourism/pilgrimage, there is no reason to deny you entry. Don't say you are married if you are not. The immigration official has no interest in knowing whether you are married, but he/she will be able to tell if you are lying about this, which will make all your answers to other questions suspect.

<<No one is going to bother you in Jerusalem if you are gay! --If you are walking down the street making out--yeah, you become a target>>
Same is true of heterosexual couples. There are things that nobody should be doing in public in the street (and not only in Israel, of course). But nobody in Israel cares - in any official capacity - whether you are gay, married or anything else. Private individuals may have their personal opinions, but that's all. And that's true of anywhere in the world.