Israeli Tourist Denied Stay in Sharm El-Sheikh Over Israeli Passport

In early August, a woman named Yuli from central Israel planned a vacation in Sharm El-Sheikh with her husband. She booked a room at the Riviera Resort Apartment through Booking.com but was soon informed by the resort that they could not accommodate her because she held only an Israeli passport. The resort explained that their security protocols prevent entry to guests with Israeli nationality, although they would accept guests holding a Russian passport. Yuli, who was born in Russia but holds only an Israeli passport, said this was the first time she encountered such a restriction despite many previous visits to Egypt using her Israeli passport.

Following this, Yuli canceled her reservation and booked a room at a nearby resort, which assured her there were no restrictions against Israeli passport holders. This incident occurred amid heightened security concerns in the Sinai Peninsula, where Israel's National Security Council recently raised the travel warning to level 4 due to a "high threat" and advised Israelis to avoid travel there. Despite these warnings, many Israelis continue to visit Sharm El-Sheikh and the surrounding area even during sensitive security periods.

Yuli expressed surprise at the resort's policy, stating, "This has never happened to me before," highlighting the unusual nature of the incident in the context of her extensive travel history in the region. The National Security Council's advisory underscores ongoing risks for Israeli tourists in Sinai, reflecting broader regional security tensions.