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IS ISRAEL
SAFE TO
VISIT?
The answer is definitively YES!!!
Don't let others’ fears rob you of a trip of a lifetime!
THE FACTS: ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM
The Israel Ministry of Tourism reports that some 3.5 million tourists visit Israel each year. All have returned home safely with glowing stories of warmth, welcome, and a new perspective on the roots of their faith. In their history (since 1964), they have not heard of anyone on a group tour being negatively affected or injured by any political activity in Israel. The Israel Ministry of Tourism would not encourage tourists to visit Israel if they believed it not to be safe.
AIRPORT SECURITY:
Israel's Ben Gurion Airport is known for having the tightest security in the world.
PROACTIVE, TRAINED TOUR GUIDES
Tour guides are trained to be proactive in protecting their groups. They will take every measure necessary to protect you and give you a safe visit in the Holy Land. They maintain ongoing contact with their ground tour operators, as well as other guides and drivers, and would never place their groups in dangerous situations or potentially troubled locations and sites. (Which typically are far from traditional tour sites).
GOVERNMENT PROTECTION
The government is proactively protects its tourists. If, in the unlikely event, a war or skirmish did indeed break out while on tour, the Israeli government and infrastructure are exceptionally experienced in protecting tourists.
Moreover, tourists are their priority, and would be taken care of immediately. Israeli officials, together with foreign embassy and consulate officials have clear and efficient procedures in place to quickly remove anyone from a dangerous place or situation, and if necessary, transport them safely back home.
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE TOURISTS TO COME IF THEY FELT THE TOURISTS WOULD BE IN THE SLIGHTEST DANGER.
Terrorists do not typically target tour buses and tourist sites. They, as much as peace-loving Israelis, need your business for survival.
CONFLICTS ARE TYPICALLY SHORT AND IT'S "BUSINESS AS USUAL."
Those living in Israel know that when a terrorist attack occurs, it is typically not as described by the media. For example: if there is a suicide bomber, the media (both international and domestic) continually broadcast the same, horrible scenes again and again throughout the day - giving the impression that what has happened in one place is happening throughout Israel.
The reality is that one or two hours after the grievous incident, Israelis are fully back to "normal life" (i.e., the area is cleaned; the shops reopened; residents continue with their same daily tasks, and public transportation continues as usual)!
PERSONAL SAFETY IS HIGH, WHILE CRIME IS VERY LOW.
Personal safety in Israel is incredibly high and crime very low, when compared to most Western countries and cities.
Traveling to Israel still remains safer than staying home in the U.S. - especially if you live in a large city like in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. In fact, with increasing global terrorism, Israel is now becoming one of the safest places in the world to visit!
Additional peace of mind can come from checking online safety updates for Israel travel at the U.S. Department of State website.