What countries currently ethnic Jews are not allowed entry kr even visit or travel? Give me a list.
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Executive summary
Several countries currently bar entry to Israeli passport holders or do not recognize Israel — commonly meaning Israelis (often but not always Jews) cannot visit. Sources list core bans including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia (with narrow exceptions), and a broader group of Muslim-majority states referenced in travel advisories; Wikipedia notes 28 states do not recognize Israel [1] [2] [3].
1. Countries that explicitly ban Israeli passport holders — core list from multiple reports
Reporting and travel guides converge on a core set of countries that either ban Israeli passports outright or severely restrict entry: Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen are repeatedly identified as places Israelis (therefore Israeli passport holders) are barred and/or travel is officially prohibited by Israeli authorities because of high security risks [2] [3]. Independent travel-policy roundups add Algeria, Libya and Saudi Arabia (Saudi with narrow exemptions for religious or business travel), Oman (transit-only exceptions), and others in various notices [4] [3].
2. Broader lists cited by travel services and advisories — additional restrictive states
Commercial travel providers and summary guides put a longer list of countries that “prohibit” Israeli citizens: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen [4]. Newsweek and other outlets note nuance: Iraq’s ban has an exception for Iraqi Kurdistan; Oman and Saudi Arabia have limited allowances for transit, religious or business purposes [3].
3. Official Israeli guidance and travel bans — security-driven prohibitions
Israel’s National Security Council has advised Israelis not to travel to countries including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran because of the highest risk of kidnapping and injury; it also lists Turkey, Morocco, Egypt (including Sinai) and Jordan as cautioned destinations and recommends avoiding visible Jewish or Israeli identity abroad [2] [5]. Those advisories reflect security threats rather than blanket diplomatic non‑recognition but have the practical effect of barring or discouraging travel.
4. Nonrecognition vs. entry bans — two different legal realities
Wikipedia reports 28 countries do not recognize Israel as of 2025; nonrecognition often correlates with restrictions on Israeli passports but is not identical to a formal travel ban [1]. Some states that don’t recognize Israel may nevertheless permit entry in special cases; conversely some that do recognize Israel may still impose entry rules based on other policies. The sources differentiate recognition counts [1] from on‑the‑ground restrictions described in travel reports [4] [3].
5. Recent political changes and ad hoc bans — Maldives, Maldives‑style announcements
News outlets have reported recent or proposed bans responsive to the Gaza war and other events — for example, the Maldives announced plans to ban Israelis in 2024–2025 and several governments have publicly debated or implemented restrictions tied to current conflicts [3]. These moves underscore that the list of countries restricting Israeli entry can change quickly with geopolitical developments.
6. Practical implications and limitations of available reporting
Available sources provide overlapping but not identical lists: travel companies [4], news analyses [3], Israeli government advisories [2] [5] and encyclopedia summaries on recognition [1] each emphasize different countries and exceptions. There is no single definitive, universally agreed list in the supplied reporting; exceptions for transit, business or religious travel are common and reported differences (for example, Iraq’s exception for Kurdistan, Saudi/Oman transit or narrow permissions) matter for travelers [3] [4].
7. Safety vs. legality — why Israel warns citizens beyond formal bans
Israeli advisories often recommend avoiding countries where Jews or Israelis are targeted even if those states do not formally ban Israeli passports; the National Security Council framed some warnings as security precautions rather than legal prohibitions [2] [5]. This distinction explains why some destinations appear on “do not travel” lists even when there is no published diplomatic ban cited in other sources.
8. How to use this information responsibly
For individuals planning travel, consult: the latest official entry rules of the destination state and their embassy guidance; Israel’s current travel advisories for Israelis and Jews; and airline or tour‑operator notices that may refuse bookings for Israeli passport holders [4] [5]. Reporting shows the list can change rapidly with politics and security events, so real‑time confirmation matters [3].
If you want, I can synthesize the combined names from these sources into a single side‑by‑side checklist noting where sources agree and where they report exceptions.