Passport to Israel - Government relaxes restrictions

Indeed an early Christmas gift for Christians - The Government announced the lifting of restrictions on pilgrimages to Israel for Malaysians.

The Star reported that

Malaysia has relaxed restrictions for religious visits to Israel, lifting the quota on the number of pilgrims and allowing travel to anyone for up to 21 days at a time.

According a letter issued by the Prime Minister's Office to the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) on Nov 28, Christians can also, among others, visit Israel as many times as they want as well as travel anywhere, subject to approval from the authorities there.

Previously, pilgrimages to Israel were limited to 700 Malaysians each year, with only 40 from one church and a stay of only up to 10 days at a time.

The pilgrims, who must be at least 18 years old, were also not allowed to visit Israel more than once in three years.

There are now no more quotas for those travelling for religious purposes to Israel.

A 10-day visit to Israel could cost between RM8,000 and RM12,000.

Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel.


A friend who is using the 1000 Places To See Before You Die book as a guide to his travels would be glad to know about this news. Have you been to Israel? Share with us your experience.


Source: The Star..Government relaxes Israel travel ban

Tour to Israel

Israel is the only country in the world Malaysian passport-holders are not permitted to visit by law. If you check your passport, you would have noticed the country stamped on it. However, all is not lost. There are Malaysians visiting Israel permitted on the grounds of pilgrimage, i.e., travelling as a church entourage.

For travellers who enjoy visiting historical sites, a Tour to Israel could be an adventure of a lifetime. Israel appeals to travelers on more levels than any other country in the world and for some, an Israel Tour could be a spiritual adventure. Israel goes back a long way in history and there are many places of interest, both ancient and contemporary.

Ayelet Tours, based in Albany, New York, has been bringing tens of thousand travellers to explore ancient biblical lands on their Israel tour excursions. They have been doing it since 1986. When you take a tour to Israel with them, you’ll get to see more than just landmarks and landscapes, you’ll truly have a chance to explore Jewish and Christian heritage under the guidance of experienced travel professionals and guides. You'll have a wide variety of tours to consider including Bar mitzvah tours Israel, Israel day tours, even adventures to Jordan and Petra as well as specially designed family tours.


Image source: Wikipedia