Israeli Foreign Minister Protests Jordan’s Treatment of Religious Jewish Tourists

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has taken a firm stance against the treatment of religious Jewish tourists by Jordanian authorities, lodging an official démarche to the Jordanian Embassy in Tel Aviv. The protest comes in response to a troubling incident that occurred two weeks ago at the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing, where 150 religious tourists were reportedly detained for 48 hours upon entering Jordan.

According to the tourists’ accounts, Jordanian security officials demanded that they cut their peyos, stating that it was safer for tourists not to appear visibly Jewish while traveling. Israel has rejected this claim, and Minister Cohen expressed his concerns in the protest letter, highlighting that it is not the first time religious Jews have faced such discriminatory measures.

For several years, Jordan has imposed restrictions on Jewish artifacts, including kippot, sefarim, talleisim and kosher food. Cohen acknowledged Jordan’s security concerns but emphasized that denying entry or forcing the disposal of Jewish artifacts is unacceptable.

Israel views peace with Jordan as a crucial mutual interest, and Minister Cohen has offered to engage in dialogue to find a solution. He asserted that discrimination against Israelis based on their religious identity at border crossings must not be tolerated.