Is it safe enough for Israelis to visit Egypt ?

Shalom Shaina, and pay no attention to the angry, pathetic, simple-minded anti-Semitic slander. It angers me as much as it must hurt you because remember, these same people who can't stand an Israeli civilian in their midst would be crying "racism" if they were mistreated as Arabs or Muslims in Spain or England or America because of all the terrorism. Sadly the truth may well be that nowhere in the Arab or Muslim world is safe for Israelis or even Jews at the moment. Indeed, even Muslim communities abroad. We've heard of two Israeli workers shot and injured in Denmark by a Palestinian, of a member of Yemen's tiny Jewish minority of a few hundred people killed, of Palestinian demonstrators in Florida telling Jews to go back to their ovens, and other outrageous incidents erupting everywhere there are Muslims. You're not talking to reasonable people. Remember all the attacks on Arabs and hostility to them after 9/11? Of course everyone condemned them as racist, yet even a few days ago I met an Egyptian who told me he would probably kill any Jew who came next to him. In New Zealand there are pubs with Muslim owners who ban any Israeli citizen outright until the Gaza offensive ends. I'm tempted to think of opening up a bar and banning any Muslim outright because of 9/11, 7/7, Mumbai, Bali, Beslan, Algiers, Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Dahab, Luxor, Madrid, Istanbul, Moscow, and all the other dozens of Muslim terrorist attacks we've seen in the last decade, just to make an even statement. :-)

Sinai receives many Israeli tourists each year, I've heard as many as a quarter million. They're quite welcome there at least, not because we're hospitable to Jews but because they bring badly needed foreign currency. The resort towns in Sinai are quite a world away from life in the mainland, very liberal and luxurious like you'll find in any country with such a gap between rich and poor. However, even there there has been an escalation in the number of terrorist attacks, since you know that in the last few years alone we've had three major bombings in Taba, Dahab, and Sharm El-Sheikh, which have killed dozens of people, many of them Egyptians. Still, if you wanted to come to Egypt, Sinai would be safest for you. Some of the Bedouins there even speak a little Hebrew because they've learned they can do profitable business with Israeli tourists.

Cairo, Alexandria, etc are a different story. We used to have a Jewish Quarter here in the capital but it's more or less disappeared since our 100,000+ Egyptian Jews fled the country between the 1940s and the 1960s because of a campaign of terror and imprisonment and torture and property confiscation. There's an Israeli Academic Center that I've never been to but am pretty sure they take pictures, and it's mostly used by Cairo University Hebrew majors. There are perhaps two synagogues in the entire city, but our primary news channel Nile TV has a Hebrew service two hours each day. Be glad you don't know any Arabic because you'll hear a lot of Friday sermons and prayer cassettes blaring from loudspeakers cursing the Jews. You'll also see Arabic copies of Mein Kampf selling at the newsstands. In general we hate Jews more than the Nazis did. If you tell no one you're Israeli, you'll be safe. Since you're either Ashkenazi or Mizrahi anyway, you can pass as a Westerner or a local woman. Tourists are treated fairly well in Egypt. Another issue is the sexual harassment (2% of foreign women say they have never been sexually harassed in Egypt) but if your brother accompanies you when you go out that should reduce it. Speak no Hebrew, even into your cell, and let no one see your Israeli passport, and you'll be OK. There have been peace and diplomacy between our nations for 36 years now, but there's hardly a sign of it at the civic or domestic level. If most Egyptians could have their way, we'd break off diplomatic ties, throw out the 1982 Peace Treaty, and enter at least a technical state of war with Israel like Iran or Saudi Arabia. The Israeli cabinet is taking another vote on the Egyptian peace proposal today and hopefully this offensive will be over in a few days and things will get back to normal.

Edit, Zoser - you compare an Israeli woman coming to our country as a tourist to a neo-Nazi going to Israel with a swastika on his shirt? Why don't we compare every one of the 20 million+ Muslims in Europe to a mile-bearded towel-headed RPG-wielding Al Qaeda terrorist?

The brainpower in this forum impresses me and the arguments are so full of holes I could drive a truck right through them.

Zoser

"the 20 million Muslims (who are natives now in Europe and they have the same rights and obligations as the pure natives, and who were there to build Europe upon Europe's request, their origin countries, are not bombing Europe day and night..."

Those 20 million Muslims consider themselves Muslim first and European second. Their views are as fanatical as those who live here. They reject We

I appreciate that you try to ask or understand, I think people who still have sense of humanity must do that. Must also look in different news sources to know and see the photos of the massacre.

I think Zoser gave you a suitable answer.

I want to explain that in Egypt many people understand that all your citizens serve in the military and used as the reserve forces. That makes it possible you might be someone used against humans and citizens in Gaza or any occupied territory. Also you may be living in a home which is built on a Palestinian land or may be the same home was taken from a Palestinian family by force and may be they were killed. I think if you were in our side you may take that in consideration too.

May be you are not responsible or agree personally for the massacre in Gaza, but how to be sure !!

It's better to wait or you better visit only Taba / Nuweba / Dahab and don't go deeper. I wished that we had a peaceful neighbor country that we can exchange normal relations, but your country and Zionism is working as an enemy for my country, my people, the region and against Humans.

Sorry you may be in safe but not welcomed even if you didn't show your nationality, you will not feel comfortable.

I advise you to try to do something to stop the massacres and the genocide happening and will happen in the future.

shame on some of you. this woman almost certaintly has nothing to do with the situation in gaza.

i don't like the killing of any civilians and pray everyday for peace over there. but it's important to distinguish between the actions of the government leaders who make the decisions and the citizens of the country.

that would be like people discriminating against egyptians b/c of the borders being sealed. even tho most egyptians disagree and it's the president's decision.

i would think the vast majority of isrealis will not travel abroad this year. i have seen footage of countries with good relations with israel stage large anti-israel protests b/c of the gaza offensive. even in france, the uk and the usa.

ultimately only u can decide what u will do. statistically speaking u will prob b ok. but no one can guarantee 1 nut job wont try something. but i guess that goes for anywhere. as long as u dont where a shirt w/ an israeli flag i dont really see how anyone would kno where ur from anyway. i would say either dont go or keep a very low profile. good luck. and hopefully things will be peaceful as soon as possible. all countries, palestinians and humans included.

I'm not even Egyptian but if I saw you I'd definitely make your life he'll. How dare you show an interest in exploring what is today Islamic territory when you are trying to take over one of our much beloved mosques - masjid al aqsa and are torturing our brothers, sisters and children. You're not wanted by anyone in the world. Stop sticking your long big ugly noses into our lives and the world would be a much peaceful place! Egyptians may pretend your welcome because they are just polite people but the fact is every Muslim wants to see u israeli's burn in he'll for eternity!

Egypt is safe for any nationalities except Israelis because of the war on Gaza.

If you want to visit Egypt go to Hargada or Sharm El Sheikh alot of tourists there and nobody care But if you want to visit other cities like Cairo or Alexandria don't tell anyone you are from Israel.

hello.in egypt, some people have very strong views about the current crisis in Gaza.but frankly, when it comes to our job and income, we dont really care. egypt is a very poor country, and if ur spending your money in our country, then many have gained an income.its wrong to say ur not welcome because you are a citizen, who should not be taken accountable of government actions. just like the palastinians shouldnt be taken accountable of Hamas's actions.not everyone in israel supports the current actions of ur government, and im sure in egypt many people understand that.were not racist either.u just have to take care thats all, just like all the other foreigners in egypt but its still a safe country.

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i definitely agree with neo7

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and Esc, seriously get a life, its a subjective question here.some people are just trying to help her ok?maybe theyre not offering the best advice, and clearly neither are u.so stop being so paranoid and pathetic about the whole situation.

A very Neutral Answer,

Egypt will be as safe as any other country, even if some knew your nationality,, Egyptians are generally peaceful, regardless their inner feelings

Now being welcomed is an other story, if you keep a low profile,you will be ok,,but to explain to you the feeling:

What if a white Neo-Nazi,come to Israel and put the Swastika symbol or a sun wheel ,,, and walk around in Israel,, do you think he/she will be welcomed,,

I think the feeling of the Egyptians in general to Israeli, will be the same feeling of the Israeli to the Nazi....I do not think that is a very welcoming feeling..

Now , You know as I know , that this (welcoming feeling to Israeli ) is not limited at the Egyptians ,Turkey president has just asked to kick out Israel from the UN...Now let me tell you a real story happened to me in Europe, I am an Egyptian who for lots of Europeans can look like Israeli, In the new year eve party 2007,some (pure European ) thought I were an Israeli, and they asked me not to tell anyone as I would not be that welcome,,,, (and that is in Europe),,, watching the news of your country everyday and what it is doing to the children is not a big help to be welcomed around the glob..

In a personal level,, I can not judge you personally, but also in the USA, they were not in love with normal Muslims after the 9/11..why the feeling of the Egyptians would be different to you, than the feeling of the Americans to Muslims

You needed an honest answer, and I answered in a very neutral and honest way .

------\@lovely diamond: what is racism if some one does not like or like someone,, this is an inner feeling, The ask- er knows and all the rest that The Israelis are not in love with the Egyptians and that is not for now but longer than that, I was invited to a Jewish wedding in USA, by (someone who makes money because of me),, when some members of his family knew my nationality, they refused to sit with me to the same dinning table.and that was in 1997. so that is even a mutual feeling and that is not born yesterday... There is a Q, and the asker should get the correct answer and the real one,, that is a duty on the answerer, not to mislead,,, I thumbed you

up..

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edit: You may did not understand my answer,, You can go, but not to feel (not welcomed) restrain your self to show your Nationality to people(they will not be that happy ..) You will be one from the 83 million walking in Egypt,and the 10 million tourist who visit/year ,You asked for the truth, and I gave it to you

If you were in Israel right now, you would know the answer.

I wonder if you care to answer to this question:

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Is it safe enough for a Palestine refugee in Egypt to visit Gaza ?

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Yes go if you want. But don't tell people you're from Israel. Sorry but even though I don't live in Egypt I wouldn't want you there. You'd probably try to take over Egypt next.

Stop Bombing others.

Make a Peace treaty with the Arab World, then you can move freely without fear to any nation in the World.

And try to pass this message to all Isrealis "Peace talks and negotiations are the Only Solution for all disputes and War is not".

Long Live Human Kind in this World.