At Haifa the customs hall was big and imposing. All sorts of families and groups were lined up to get on the boat. There were three boats leaving that day – Heraklion, Athens and Port Said. Ours was due to leave first, stopping at Limassol and Rhodes before arriving at Heraklion.
When it came to our turn to go through customs, the two girls were waved on through but us four boys were taken aside. We were taken to individual curtained-off cubicles. I was told to strip from the waist down. The presence of two Israeli soldiers with the border guard made me realise that there was to be no negotiating here.
I took off my trousers and pants. I was forced to bend over on to a table. The search was thorough, and rough to say the least. After the cavity search, they emptied my bag and went through everything. Every meagre element of my life was scrutinised by these three men in uniform, while I pulled my clothes back on. A bag of washing powder was taken away for testing. My camera was opened up and the film was lost. After they had finished they declared me fit to leave the country.
I sat there ruined, in a pile of my possessions and stopped myself from crying.
I packed my bag, and walked out of the room and onto the boat.
“L’hitraot,” said the man checking my ticket and passport. “See you soon”.
“Yeah, well, Shalom and all that” thought I “but you won’t be seeing me again”.
10 commentaires:
Violations in so many ways. Bastards!
This made you sound so incredibly young...and bullied. I wanted to wrap my arms around you and take away the whole episode while the boat rocked under our feet.
Painful...
Not very nice! We had hassle while we were there but it all seems very mild in comparison.
OK, that's plenty explanation of why you wouldn't go back. I don't blame you.
were the guards at least cute?? (clutching at straws to make you feel better)
Well it was certainly an eye opener! The whole few months had been such a wake up call for me, that it semmed like 'just one of those things' and not out of the ordinary. How fucked up is that?
Conortje, it was like stepping into some kind of nasty eastern european gay porn shoot.
Draw your own conclusions about whether that makes it good or not, ha ha.
But well done you for making me laugh!
God how awful.
That's really upset me, Travelling, especially the bit about trying not to cry.
Bastards.
Tornwordo, SM, I agree - it was awful. But looking back, I was so glad to be leaving that it was just something to get through.
The following story, if it gets written, is the journey home - from the ferry to standing on my parent's doorstep.
It's a happier tale with some big love....
CB - trust me, I had some encounters with the Israeli army that i'll never forget....this was one of them, in a bad way. Mostly they were good. and hot too....:-)
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