The man was stopped by Egyptian security officers, who told him that prayer was not permitted in the terminal, took his passport and prevented him from boarding his flight.
By Shula Rosen
An Israeli man was detained at Taba Airport in Egypt after attempting to pray with tefillin (phylacteries) while waiting for a flight and was later released following intervention by Israeli officials, according to accounts from passengers, Ynet reported.
The incident occurred on Sunday at the small international airport near the Taba border crossing, where many Israelis have been traveling due to restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport.
The man was stopped by Egyptian security officers, who told him that prayer was not permitted in the terminal, took his passport and removed him from the boarding area, preventing him from boarding his flight.
He was later released and allowed to board a subsequent flight after Israeli officials intervened.
Passengers described a tense atmosphere at the airport, where enforcement of restrictions on religious activity appeared strict. Aviel, an Israeli passenger on the same flight to Athens carrying 180 Israelis, said he witnessed multiple interactions between security personnel and Jewish travelers.
“I arrived at the airport early. It’s a very small terminal with no internet and almost nothing there. We were flying to Athens on a plane carrying 180 Israelis. Sitting next to me in the terminal was a Haredi man reading a Gemara and moving his head. Suddenly, an Egyptian security officer pounced on him and said: ‘It is forbidden to pray in this terminal. Give me your passport immediately.’”
Aviel said he intervened, explaining that the man was reading rather than praying, after which the officer left him alone. However, he said a second incident occurred later when another young Israeli passenger took out a tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin while waiting to board.
According to Aviel, a military officer approached the passenger, told him that prayer was not allowed, demanded his passport and detained him.
“In Egypt, you have to be careful,” Aviel told Ynet. “It was really frightening. They don’t allow anyone to pray there. People were afraid to speak up or get involved.”
The incident highlights tensions experienced by Israeli travelers transiting through Taba Airport, where passengers said enforcement measures created an atmosphere of fear.
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