Jerusalem to Syria

You just gave a caller advice about walking from Jerusalem to Syria. We are journalists, and spent three years based in Jerusalem.

Two points:

1. While technically Israeli customs won't stamp your passport if asked they have often stamped first and asked questions later. We have friends who were on their way to Lebanon and had to cancel their trip when the customs person stamped their passport even though they had just asked her not to.

2. More importantly, you suggested that one could walk to Jordan and then enter Syria with a Syrian visa. Unfortunately that would be problematic. To walk into Jordan from Israel you would cross at the Allenby Bridge crossing and your entrance stamp into Jordan would reflect that. An observant Syrian customs person would know you had entered from Israel. You might get away with it, but it would be a gamble.

The easiest solution: Start in Syria and walk to Jerusalem.

Will

 

{ Previous Letter | This Week's Index | Next Letter }

{ Main Letters Page }