Millions of Muslims are currently in Mecca to fulfill one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, the hajj, as part of the Eid al-Adha celebration. Arab Israelis also participate in this rite, but their status is unique, which complicates the process of their arrival in the Islamic holy city. Since Saudi Arabia does not recognize the State of Israel, the entry of these pilgrims is not possible with an Israeli passport, and so the arrangements involved in their arrival are up to the goodwill of Jordan.

However, there has been a significant change this year. For the first time, it has become possible for the faithful from Israel to fly from Ben Gurion Airport to Jeddah via Jordan. All in all, 770 pilgrims were allowed to leave for Saudi Arabia on this route — about a third of the 2014 quota of 3,651 set by Saudi authorities for Arab Israelis.

The preparations for the hajj start a long time before the journey begins. The requests for this year’s holiday were submitted to special Jordanian commissions by the end of 2013, through local “hajj committees” that are active in the Arab sector. Priority of exit permits is for those who have reached the age of 35 and have not yet visited Mecca. The older an applicant, the higher he is on the priority list. Tayibe resident Hajj Mustafa Azzam, who heads the delegation of pilgrims from Israel, told Al-Monitor that the chances of receiving an exit permit to Mecca twice in a lifetime are “slim, if totally nonexistent, except in very unusual cases.” Thousands of Arab Israelis who request to perform hajj every year are denied exit permits.

For the fortunate who receive an exit permit, the round trip journey to the Kaaba — the holy structure found in Mecca — can last from two weeks to a month. The Saudi authorities invest a great deal in the development of hajj tourism, for — among other reasons — because this event brings in billions of dollars. The Saudis invest not just in developing the infrastructure to absorb the millions of faithful. A Tayibe businessman, Yusuf Nashad, who made the pilgrimage two years ago, said that upon arrival in Mecca, everyone received a personal medical kit, including first aid equipment and pain relievers, a token gift that made them feel that the hosts care about them.