Israelis in religious garb were denied entry into Israel this weekend, the Times of Israel and Jordanian media have reported.
The tourists were denied entry because they were wearing the Jewish kippah-a religious head covering-and were given no further explanation by Jordanian authorities, reports said. They had been crossing the border to Jordan to visit the grave of Harun near Petra – the supposed burial place of Aaron, Moses’ brother.
Jordan later apologised for the incident, however, calling it a mistake on the part of an individual border official. The Israeli Foreign Ministry explained it had been assured that necessary steps would be taken to deal with the incident.
Jordan and Israel maintain officially friendly ties, but relations between the two countries are often strained thanks to the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, and conflicts over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Despite this, 18,000 Israelis reportedly visited Jordan in 2013 and 24 weekly flights link the two countries.
This isn’t the first time travellers have been stopped from Tel Aviv to Amman. In 2009, Jordan denied an Israeli entry into the country at the border with Eilat after noticing he was carrying a Jewish prayer shawl and beads. Entry into Israel too is frequently denied to both Jordanians and foreigners crossing from the border, as well as Palestinians and Jordanians of Palestinian origin who are unable to enter some or all of their homeland, including holy sites.
