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Comment by wereHamster | Hacker News Reader

People traveling through the middle east and Israel often have two passports. One they show the israeli immigration officers, and the other they show elsewhere. Israel will interrogate when you show up on their borders with an stamp in your passport from on of the arabic states. It's just a way to get around this kind of hassle.

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Israel doesn't stamp anymore (at least the last few times I was there). You now get a small slip of paper instead. I presume for this very reason.

Even if you’re entering for business?

I've only ever gone for business.

And (some) Arab countries will create trouble/ban you from entering if your passport has Israeli stamps...

He's actually in trouble in Lebanon now because of this. The article says he entered Israel in 2008, which is illegal in Lebanon since they are technically at war.

I have no doubt Lebanon will look the other way (the entry registry might even be in a different passport)

He's a national hero in Lebanon. He's been considered for the presidency.

I think the leb authorities will go through the motions. But I agree with you.

The bigger thieves are the Lebanese politicians who are the ire of the current protests in Lebanon. They have fleeced the country to the tune of billions... Multiples of what Carlos has been accused of.

It was a very public trip with press conference with the Israeli President (TV, photographs, etc)... Clearly the Lebanese government and judiciary have known about that trip all along and haven't cared.

It's the other way around. Israel stopped stamping a long time ago - but still might if you're a dick.

But if you had an Israeli stamp in your passport - or left the slip of paper in, there's a whole host of other countries that will not let you in: Syria Lebanon Libya Kuwait Iran Iraq Pakistan Sudan Yemen

Israel may ask some extra questions - but they won't refuse you entry.

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