Author Topic: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?  (Read 21985 times)

Offline doublejay

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Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« on: October 02, 2011, 05:23:52 PM »
I am trying to book a ticket to Israel for a solo female passenger for Sukkos (arriving Tuesday day b4 sukkos). There is a low cost ticket but it stops for a few hours in Istanbul, Turkey (also short stopover on way back).

Bad idea? I have no experience with stopping in Turkey nor am I up-to-date with current news that might affect security in that area.

Offline YudiG

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2011, 05:26:02 PM »
Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh............

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2011, 05:27:36 PM »
If you don't carry an israeli passport, and stay in the airport, there shouldn't be any issue.

I'm talking for now, if booking for pessach, I have no idea.

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2011, 05:31:20 PM »
a few weeks ago they stripped and humiliated a few Israeli Business men. If you have an American passport nothing worse can happen to you   
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline moish

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2011, 05:35:55 PM »
it should be fine

Offline Dan

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2011, 05:50:03 PM »
On principle I would not fly through IST.

"The passengers said Turkish policemen had escorted them from the arrivals section to a private interrogation room, confiscated their passports, and conducted thorough body searches.

Hayuta Leibowitz, an Israeli businesswoman who was on the flight, told Israel Radio that the experience marked a "point of no return" for her after years of working in Istanbul. "I felt humiliated. The experience was very scary and humiliating. I felt like it was Entebbe, where Jewish and Israeli travelers were separated from the rest of the passengers on the Air France flight. The Turkish policemen were very nasty to us, and the baggage handlers threw our luggage onto the floor. The baggage handlers were commoners, obviously influenced by the Turkish media," Leibowitz said.

Orit, another Israeli passenger at the airport, told Israel Radio that she was ordered into a dark room by two female security guards, told to strip, and was subjected to a full body search, including in her private parts. She was spoken to only in Turkish, even when she responded and asked questions in English. "I was left only in my underwear, without a bra. I understand now what it must have felt like in the Holocaust, when people were just carrying out orders without asking questions," Orit said. She added that about 20 Israelis were brought into the interrogation room "and placed in a corner."

Orit said that the Israeli men in the group said that a Turkish policeman had apologized to the group, saying that he was given orders to detain the Israelis. "
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2011, 05:54:40 PM »
it was a tit for tat situation

Offline doublejay

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2011, 05:56:38 PM »
 :o Scary stuff.

Okay, I think I have heard enough. I'll find something else.

Thanks for the quick feedback to all.

p.s. If anyone knows of any cheap fares from NY for Sukkos (stopovers to sane countries are fine) please share. Thanks.

Offline chuchem

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2011, 06:36:52 PM »
Its 100% fine for a non israeli to go.

By the way, how do you think the israeli treat turkish people arriving to israel. If the guy has a few arab stamps in his passport, you think he clears israeli immigration within 5 minutes?

Offline doublejay

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2011, 07:03:34 PM »
Its 100% fine for a non israeli to go.

By the way, how do you think the israeli treat turkish people arriving to israel. If the guy has a few arab stamps in his passport, you think he clears israeli immigration within 5 minutes?

Did you read Dan's story?

I could be wrong but I don't think that ever happened to an Arab in Ben Gurion (if he wasn't caught with weapons or something).

Offline shmiel

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2011, 07:17:55 PM »
Its 100% fine for a non israeli to go.

By the way, how do you think the israeli treat turkish people arriving to israel. If the guy has a few arab stamps in his passport, you think he clears israeli immigration within 5 minutes?
-1. Don't compare these scenarios. Israel has a legitimate reason for additional interrogation, while no matter what they say this was a clearly anti-Israel move by Turkey that had nothing to do with security. What you mentioned is the exact thing you would typically hear from the anti-Israel crowd.
 

Offline M

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2011, 01:06:58 AM »
Stopping there on way to israel. Not really worried.

Offline moish

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2011, 02:59:31 AM »
Did you read Dan's story?

I could be wrong but I don't think that ever happened to an Arab in Ben Gurion (if he wasn't caught with weapons or something).
sure it has. if you were actually following the story that dan mentioned, you would have seen that this was a direct response to how the israelis treated some turkish people a few days prior

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2011, 03:08:12 AM »
The USA who is befriended with european countries, still treats them when entering the USA like garbage.

Granted, not as bad, but then again, we are supposed to be allies...

Offline AJK

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #14 on: October 03, 2011, 01:44:23 PM »
The USA who is befriended with european countries, still treats them when entering the USA like garbage.

Granted, not as bad, but then again, we are supposed to be allies...

Allies can also blow things up...

Why shouldn't the US be cautious?
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Offline mercaz1

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #15 on: October 03, 2011, 01:56:52 PM »
if your an american passport holder i think it would be fine
those searches were targeted at israelis for revenge on how turkish ppl were treated in ben gurion

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #16 on: October 03, 2011, 02:42:34 PM »
i think
Yes, but I don't think anyone wants to YMMV it
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Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #17 on: October 03, 2011, 02:43:16 PM »
For the moment its okay. (I'm not thinking  :o)

Offline Dan

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #18 on: October 03, 2011, 02:52:11 PM »
Speaking for myself I would gladly pay a few hundred dollars rather than have even a 0.1% chance of having my family humiliated like that.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: Dangerous to stopover in Istanbul?
« Reply #19 on: October 03, 2011, 03:24:15 PM »
how about if its 0.0%