Want to Visit the Holy Land? First You Have to Get In

Friends who previously visited the region warned me that as a Muslim, I was sure to receive “special treatment” (a.k.a. a hard time) by Israeli officers when attempting to cross the border. So I wasn’t the least bit surprised when the agent checking my passport a few minutes earlier asked me to wait to the side for additional questioning. I’m brown, possess an Arab sounding name, and wear a headscarf. There’s a good chance I’m Muslim and therefore, an automatic national security threat.