Visiting Israel

[satchboogie]

ok so my wife and i hold u.s passports and plan on a trip to the middle east which will include israel, jordan, egypt, lebanon, turkey, and iraq...

from our understanding, a passport with israeli entry/exit stamps will possibly impose problems in countries like lebanon and iraq...

with that in mind, we understand israel will NOT stamp our passports if we request such, and instead stamp the entry permit.

has anybody had experience with such entry/exit to israel?
if yes, id like to learn more about the process..

did israeli border officialis question intensely why you do not want the passport stamped on the way into israel? what about on the way out of israel?

did they allow you to keep the paper which had both entry/exit stamps or did they keep it once you exited?

much appreciated in advance.

[Mogul]

From what I've heard any stamp on your passport from Israeli officials will cause you big problems in arabic countries. And thus Israelis understand the situation and are helpful in this matter. AFAIK they give you separate paper with visa and avoid any stamps in the passport. But you should check with consulate and explain your situation. Also why don't you plan your trip in such way so that you will avoid any confusions. Lets say first visit Middle East then Israel and then Turkey. Or ME -> Turkey -> Israel.

[satchboogie]

thanks for the reply guy...

actually, the way my wife planned it, israeli would be the first destination point as she has family there...

so israeli would be our 'bunker' (if you will)

[RockerDen]

From what I've heard any stamp on your passport from Israeli officials will cause you big problems in arabic countries. And thus Israelis understand the situation and are helpful in this matter. AFAIK they give you separate paper with visa and avoid any stamps in the passport. But you should check with consulate and explain your situation. Also why don't you plan your trip in such way so that you will avoid any confusions. Lets say first visit Middle East then Israel and then Turkey. Or ME -> Turkey -> Israel.

Mogul, I can say you're right. Also you can visit Israel last, after Middle East and Turkey.
REMEMBER, if you want to visit Israel DO NOT visit Iran (either before or after it)! I also don't recommend you to go to Israel after visiting countries such as Syria.