New Zealand immigration authorities have begun requiring Israelis seeking to visit the country to disclose extensive information about their military service. All Israeli residents 18 and over, male and female, are subject to a military draft with mandatory service generally 24 to 32 months.
Israelis of conscription or reserve-service age now face a multi-step visa process in which they must specify:
- Dates and durations of their Israel Defense Forces service
- Rank, the units they served in, and the bases where they were stationed
- Any involvement in intelligence services, law enforcement agencies, or organizations that ‘promote violence or human rights abuses’
- Whether they have participated in, or been complicit with, ‘war crimes, crimes against humanity, or other human rights violations’
Israel is a visa-waiver country for short stays, so only those visiting for longer than three months have to apply for tourist visas and fill out detailed questionnaires.
At least one Israeli soldier who served in Gaza was reportedly denied entry after completing these forms, although officials did not publicly confirm the reason for the rejection. New Zealand officials say that combat service in Gaza or elsewhere does not alone disqualify an applicant. Australia has enforced a similar requirement, resulting in at least two Israelis being turned away there.
Meanwhile, Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has announced a hotline to “track down” Israeli soldiers or reservists vacationing in New Zealand, asking the public to report sightings so they can “inform” these IDF personnel that they are unwelcome. They are also pushing for a comprehensive visa ban on any Israeli with past or current IDF ties. They claim New Zealanders must prevent what they call “rest and recreation from genocide” by Israeli soldiers.
New Zealand has not similarly changed its procedure seeking the same level of details with an equivalent, conflict-specific questionnaire on visitors from Syria, Sudan, or other nations currently embroiled in conflict. Make of that what you will.
(HT: Josh S)
The vast majority insignificant little New Zealand are nothing more than retarded Gollums.
Why don’t the hypocritical little biatches ban everybody in the US Armed Forces that had anything to do with dropping nuclear bombs on Japan?
The average IQ in New Zealand must be no higher than 4.
@Truen Dave
Thank you for that update. If true, that NZ does not actually require visas for Israelis (and thus, does not actually question about military service), then, like many speculative posts online, this was all a fun mental exercise for us here, and we can go back to saying nice things about NZ, because they are indeed a nice people and place. Likewise, I personally hope to visit Israel someday, and wish the people there the very best.
@J.C.
Oh boy. No need to defame an entire people unnecessarily. Kiwis are by and large decent, intelligent people. And the false equivalence you made about the US and Japan is atrocious. Please, save your straw-man arguments for X or wherever they support such silliness.