Israel

I spent two weeks in Israel over Christmas and New Year. I lost count of the times people thanked me for going there at a time when so many are afraid. There really isn’t any need to be afraid. The last suicide bomb attack in Israeli territory was in September, and nearly all cases of violence break out in isolated areas which are easy to avoid as a traveller. A trip to Israel can take in Egypt and Jordan as day trips, although with an Israeli stamp in your passport you will be barred entry from most other Arabic countries. Apparently you can ask immigration officials to not stamp your passport, but I arrived bleary eyed and hungover at 5am and ...

When I was offered a free trip to Israel I was both excited and anxious. I don't follow the news, so knew there was conflict there, but not how much, but then again a free week's holiday isn't something to be sneered at, so I eventually agreed to go along. I was flying to London, spending the night there and leaving the next morning on a plane for Tel Aviv. I was travelling with a group, so we all piled on the plane and elbowed each other out the way to get to our seats. Once comfortably seated, it was just a matter of twiddling our thumbs for about 4 hours until we descended onto the Israeli tarmac, all anxiously peering out the windows and oohing and aahing ...

After living in Israel for almost 6 years I can safely say that what we read about and what we see abroad do not photograph the every-day life of either side in the conflict. The conflict has not just been going on for some time, it has been going on since the start of Islam, and it has been going on perhaps even before then as many could say. Like two children fighting feverishly over control, Israelis and Palestinians are at war for what they want. In the process innocent lives are being lost and families are being destroyed. I have lost many friends, from both sides to this horrific violence and think that it is my civic duty to set the ...