Sunday, February 05, 2012

 
  Israel National Trail  Technical/Forum...  General  Weapons for personal protection
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New Post 1/2/2009 10:44 AM
User is offline Yankale
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Weapons for personal protection 
Modified By Yankale  on 2/2/2009 7:48:51 AM)

This is another issue in the overview. There's no need to carry any weapons with you and they are forbidden to carry, including knives.

There were several reports about police officers stopping a hiker and searching for weapons. 

AMEX (MC or Visa) Don't leave home without them.

Weapons: Leave them at home...

 
New Post 2/1/2009 2:56 PM
User is offline bbreland
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

What about small knives just for hiking/camping purposes?  Is that ok?

 
New Post 2/2/2009 7:46 AM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 
Modified By Yankale  on 2/2/2009 7:49:13 AM)

Try to avoid them if possible. Take a very small and simple knife.

 
New Post 2/2/2009 8:11 AM
User is offline Albertok
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

Hi Yankale

 

Can you please tell me where you got the information that knives are forbidden?  I would like to do more research on that subject since I believe a good sturdy knife is a essential piece of equipment on a hike.  I have a small serrated KA-Bar knife that I use as a utility knife and would be loathed to leave it behind.

 

Thanks

 

Albert

 
New Post 2/2/2009 9:19 AM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 
Modified By Yankale  on 2/4/2009 8:35:50 AM)

It is illegal to carry any weapon in our country, unless it's for self protection and you have an Israeli permit. Knives are illegal.

The police can stop anyone who looks suspicious to them, search for weapons or other illegal stuff, including knives, and you can face anything from confiscation to joining them to the nearest police station for questioning.

KA-Bar knives even small ones, are an absoute NO NO,  unless you don't mind risking a night in jail if the police finds the KA-Bar with you.

Your best option is to carry a very simple knife that will not make anyone nervous.... 

I'll ask Matt (Acorn) who has hiked the INT last spring, and spent a night at my place, to share his experience regarding this issue.

His knife was confiscated, and it was not a KA-Bar....

 

 
New Post 2/2/2009 10:55 AM
User is offline bbreland
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

 Yankale wrote

Try to avoid them if possible. Take a very small and simple knife.

 

Thanks Yankale!  Basically I'll be carring a Leatherman tool, it has a knife, but it's fairly small.

 
New Post 2/2/2009 1:41 PM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 
Modified By Yankale  on 2/2/2009 1:42:41 PM)

A Leatherman is a good choice, looks like hikers' stuff even to police officers....however:

If your fully loaded backpack weighs more than 22-23 pounds (without food and water) it's too heavy.

In the desert you need 5.5  liters of water per day for drinking & cooking + food so you end up with a backpack that weighs more than 35 pounds.

Consider replacing the Leatherman with a Titanuim SPORK and it can be used as a knife too.

They have also a SPORK with a handle that can be folded, it's even lighter, it's great stuff.

 
New Post 2/2/2009 11:23 PM
User is offline Acorn
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

Hi:  well here is my story.  I had purchased at a Seattle hardware store a folding knife with a 5cm blade.  Typical pocket knife and short enought NOT to qualify as a weapon in Seattle.

Day three of my hike I was at a roadside 'saddling up' with two trails friends.  In pulls a police car and they start chatting us up.  Then one of the officers asks the simple question of "Does anyone have a knife?".  I live a life without guile and said sure, I did.  I handed the knife to the officer who opened it and passed it to the other officer.  Then engaged in a long conversation that involved a cell phone call and a radio call. This took several minutes and the first officer asked why I was carrying a knife.  I was a bit dumbfounded. I had had a knife with me on every hiking and hunting trip I was ever on.  I said I carried it to cut string and apples plus pry out slivers, etc.  Well they were having none of that.  I was informed that if I wanted to carry a knife I could only carry a 'butter knife' and my little blade was hereby confiscated.  I got a picture of my knife in evidence bag and a receipt.  They drove off after reminding me that I could always come with them to the police station.  I replied:  "No sir!".  They smiled and drove off.

Now, fast forward a week and I am having an evening coffee with a city police officer in Nazret.  He about choked when I told him my story.  He said there was no reason for anyone to take away a hiker's knife.  Obviously, the other officers did not do well on their 'racial profiling' training.  I mean a 54 year old American is a danger to the citizens of Israel with a pocket knife?  I could do more damage with a rock.

Here is the kicker.  I stopped in a Richochet [sp] sporting goods store in Be'er Sheva.  Sure enough on display was a large selection of folding knives.  Many of the knives were alot longer than mine!

My suggestion;  don't take a large kife or a folding knife with an agressive look to it.  Think 'Boy Scout' knives.  I bet a clasp knife with a bottle opener would be fine.

As for self defense, see the 'rock' comment above.

Oh, my talk at the Seattle REI store on my INT hike is set for 26 Feb. at 1900.  Please come!  It was a great hike in a great land with great people!

 
New Post 2/4/2009 3:24 AM
User is offline Albertok
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

Ok Thanks.  I get the picture.  I will leave  the KA Bar at home.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 
New Post 2/10/2009 7:31 AM
User is offline zammy
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

As an Israeli hiker I carry what I calla mitcen knife, a small one, not longer then 10 cm, that's the law.

As a tourist I don't recommend getting in an argument with an israel policeman whose English is bad if any, don't risk it. A small kitchen knife would serve you just fine. This is not a survival trip.

 
New Post 1/1/2012 9:58 PM
User is offline binny
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

The "knife" I'd like to carry is only 1 1/2 inches long and hangs off my key chain. It's the smallest  folding knife Wenger makes with a small folding scissors on the other side. Does this sound like something illegal or likely to arouse suspicion? It's tough using this to even cut through an apple because the blade only goes 1/2 way thru!

 
New Post 1/2/2012 12:48 PM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

No problem with this "knife"...

 
New Post 1/7/2012 4:35 PM
User is offline pauljblank
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

last week i hiked for three days in the segment north of arad.   i was hiking by myself and near har amasa i encountered three very large wolves!  they ran right by me, although later on i saw one of them at the base of a hill...he ran off when he saw me.   i've never shot a gun before, but this was one time when i wish i had a weapon of some sort.  the rest of that hike i had a large rock in my hand and made lots of noise...

 
New Post 1/8/2012 3:01 AM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

I believe they were dogs maybe large jackals. There are no wolves in that area. Wolves live mainly in the Golan heights and very few in the Negev desert. If you are scared of a dog / jackal all you have to do is pick a stone (you don't have to throw it) and they will ran as fast as they can, they are more afraid than you are.

 
New Post 1/8/2012 9:38 PM
User is offline pauljblank
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 
Modified By Yankale  on 1/9/2012 1:13:41 AM)

are you certain?  i've seen jackals while i was hiking and these were much larger...this was just north of arad, so i maybe these were the wolves of the negev.  i did pick up a rock, but i'm pretty sure i was more scared than the animals.  btw, yankele, i do have another question for you about a trip i am planning over passover, but i didn't want to ask it on the forum.  my email address is pauljblank  at  aol.com.   if you would send me your email i can ask you directly.  thanks

 
New Post 1/9/2012 1:10 AM
User is offline Yankale
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Re: Weapons for personal protection 

I did not hear about wolves in that area, but I'll ask again. Check your mail.

 
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