Maldives Implements Ban on Israeli Passport Holders
So, the Maldives has stirred the pot with a travel ban that’s bound to get tongues wagging. After a year of deliberation, it finally became law. Here’s the scoop.
Maldives Bans Israelis, in Solidarity with Palestine
President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives just put pen to paper on an amendment to the Immigration Act, effectively slamming the door on anyone holding an Israeli passport. Don’t be too quick to judge—if you’re a dual national, you can still swing by. The ban’s focused on the passport itself, rather than whether you have an Israeli one stuck somewhere in your drawer.
Although the Maldives hasn’t been on chummy terms with Israel since the 1970s, they’d been tolerating Israeli tourists until now. Mind you, this ban’s sticking around until Israel decides to call off its controversial actions against Palestinians.
The government’s press release spills the beans:
“The ratification is a reflection of the Government’s staunch response to Israel’s ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide against Palestinians. We stand firm with the Palestinian cause and will keep voicing out for Palestinian rights on international stages, challenging Israel’s conduct.”And the president didn’t mince words—his vision remains steadfast. An independent Palestine, following those pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital: that’s the roadmap in line with UN resolutions he’s banking on.
They dropped the hint loud and clear in June 2024, but boy, did they take their sweet time getting this done. Just to drop some numbers—around 11,000 tourists from Israel clocked into the Maldives in 2023, a mere 0.6% of visitors really. And 2024’s numbers have taken a nosedive.
Now, I’m not pulling your leg here—many Israeli passport holders likely sneak in under aliases using other passports. Plus, this decision might just make Jewish tourists from around the world rethink their dream Maldives vacation.
My Take on the Maldives Banning Israeli Passports
Can we just state the obvious? The Israel-Gaza spat is a hot button issue that polarizes like nothing else. It’s like everyone’s speaking a different language—no one’s really listening.
Let’s not get it twisted. Israel faced a nasty terrorist attack on October 7, 2023—no sugarcoating, Hamas is a terrorist outfit. But mourning the countless lives lost in Gaza isn’t off the table either. You have to ask: has this military rollout, stretching over 18 months, really been doing the least damage and paving the way for peace?
So, here are a few nuggets from my patchwork of thoughts:
- Travel bans penalizing people based on their passport? I’ve never been a fan. It seems like tit-for-tat that ends with regular folks in a bind.
- The Maldives lives off tourism. They’ve bent over backwards on what might conflict with their roots—heck, they’ve got the cocktails flowing at resorts. Funny place for them to draw a line, though.
- Forecast: tourism’s going to take a bigger hit than their modest 0.6% Israeli visitors. Jewish travelers holding other passports aren’t going to rush to book tickets anytime soon.
- This might seem a bit head-scratching. All it’s doing is cutting into the Maldives’ tourism receipts. If they really want to stand by Palestinians, rolling in revenue might do more.
- The irony? Quite a few Israeli passport holders are Muslim. Granted, they aren’t lining up at Maldivian resorts, but banning them feels counterproductive.
- If this policy was in the pipeline, maybe they should’ve fast-forwarded it earlier.
Bottom Line
In a twist not really surprising to some, the Maldives is locking out Israeli passports from entry. It might seem like a long-anticipated move after whispers floated around since June 2024. My stance? I’ve always been against such restrictions victimizing the everyday traveler for the acts of statesmen.
Yet, here we are. So, how do you feel about the Maldives flipping the metaphorical “No Entry” sign for Israeli passports?Val Seny ski resort