Israeli passports

--- In janglo@yahoogroups.com, "seagullsinsnow" wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> A member of my family who is an American citzen who lived in Israel as
> a child ran into some problems when arriving in Israel for a visit.
> Although she lived in Israel in the early 1950's as a child and has
> since then been a regular visitor to Israel on an American passport
> only, this time her US passport was not stamped with a regular tourist
> visa. Instead, she was stamped "entrance" only and told she must
> procure an Israeli passport.
> Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation?
> She is worried that she will not be allowed out of the country or back
> in at a later time.
>
> Any thoughts would be helpful.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Sigal
>

The Israeli gov't is clamping down on passport regulations. The law is that an Israeli citizen may only enter or exit Israel on an Israeli passport. There are two possible solutions, both quite simple:
1. Go to misrad hapnim and get a passport. they will speed up the process if you tell them what the issue is (person has to leave soon, has no way of leaving, etc.). Come with approx. 300 NIS in cash and two photos.
2. Go to misrad hapnim and renounce Israeli citizenship. This is free, but is a bureaucratic pain in the neck, and will preclude living in Israel in the future.

courtesy of israblof: israblog.blogspot.com.