Have to go to Israel for a month for work. Any safety tips?

MrWenger1982

Hi,
I had a thread on this a week or two ago but it seems to have disappeared so sorry for repeating myself but just want to run my plans by people who might know a bit more than me.

Ok I know the basics such as don't go to the Gaza strip but what about Jerusalem and other places in the West Bank? I was hoping to go to Eilat for a weekend, Jerusalem (old city) for a weekend, and then to Bethlehem and Nazereth in my final weekend. Not interested in the policital side of things, just want to know what I should avoid doing and any other bits of advice. For example, I've heard to avoid public transportation. Any other recommended sights would be appreciated also!

Thanks

TheNog

My safety tip is don't go.

There doesn't seem to be any safe places in israel as everything is a target. I'd presume work wouldn't mind if u told them u feared for ur safety.

MrWenger1982

I am going early next week and getting financially compensated for it. I have already agreed with my manager that I will come right home if I am in fear for my safety. My Israeli colleagues assure that where I will be working is safe (although they would say that )

daveg

This will be no comfort to you. The last company I worked at required some employees to travel to Isreal earlier this year for training. I have since left the company but I heard the company changed the plans and trained them in Switzerland due to the situation in Isreal. Personally I wouldn't go.

MrWenger1982

I am now in Israel nearly a week and I love it here. I haven't seen the first hint of trouble and the Israelis assure me it is limited to Gaza. An absolutely unbelievable place. You have a sun holiday and several historical sites all within an hour or 2 of each other. Best place I have ever been to.

DublinWriter

MrWenger1982 wrote:

I am now in Israel nearly a week and I love it here. I haven't seen the first hint of trouble and the Israelis assure me it is limited to Gaza. An absolutely unbelievable place. You have a sun holiday and several historical sites all within an hour or 2 of each other. Best place I have ever been to.

I've heard similar stories from a few friends of mine in London who holiday there all the time, they loved it.

If I remember correctly there was a boards member here who lived over there for a while and posted up a pic of two attractive young IDF ladies at some fast food place with AK47s slung over their shoulder. Ring any bells anyone?

But if it was my choice, I wouldn't go.

arybvtcw0eolkf

DublinWriter wrote:

I've heard similar stories from a few friends of mine in London who holiday there all the time, they loved it.

If I remember correctly there was a boards member here who lived over there for a while and posted up a pic of two attractive young IDF ladies at some fast food place with AK47s slung over their shoulder. Ring any bells anyone?

But if it was my choice, I wouldn't go.

Israel is without doubt my favourite place on earth. Super, super destination.

re. IDF females carrying AK47's, doesn't happen my friend. They carry Uzi SMG's and the males carry M-16's and M-16 colt Commando's.

I can't wait to go back. Absolutely superb.

Superb weather.

Superb People.

Superb food, Ohhhhhhhh dear god the food!.

Women, suffering Jesus the women.....Droooooooooooooool.

Don't mind too much of the sh*t you read in the media. Don't forget only ten year's ago American's travelling to Ireland thought we still ate Protestant babies for breakfast!.

Benedict XVI

Mairt wrote:

Don't mind too much of the sh*t you read in the media. Don't forget only ten year's ago American's travelling to Ireland thought we still ate Protestant babies for breakfast!.

Do we not !!!

KBarry

I lived in Israel for a bit (6 months on a kibbutz) when the Second Intifada was at it's peak and I've been back twice since, the last time 3 years ago. I can honestly say I felt safer there than I do here.
Street crime is almost non-existent but even the chances of being caught up in some terrorist act is very slim. Now things have calmed down even more I would say you will have no problems at all.
Obviously you should avoid Gaza. If you are just going as a tourist you have no reason to go there in any case.
Jerusalem I didn't like personally. When I went things were very tense there and I was alone. I mean no other tourists in the Old City. Consequently I got loads of hassle from the Arabs there "Come into my shop" etc. That was annoying, but things got scary when one of them grabbed me and started shouting something about Palestine. I shat my pants but was saved when another shopkeeper came over and chinned him. I legged it back to the Jewish Quarter, then I was on the next bus back to Tel Aviv.
Saying that though, I know loads of people who loved Jerusalem. Maybe I was just unlucky. A word of warning though. You will get loads of people coming up and asking if they can be your guide. They seem to congregate at the gates but I was ambushed inside. Don't go. They will give you a whistlestop tour of the sights (I was literally running sometimes) and then demand a ridiculous fee for their 'services'. It nearly came to blows at the negotiation stage for me. The Old City is well sign-posted and any decent guidebook will give you all the information you need. BTW, Jerusalem is not in the West Bank. You will have no problem entering should you choose to go.
Bethlehem, however, is in the West Bank. Can't give any tips as I didn't go. Too difficult (sometimes impossible during security alerts) and dangerous to travel there. You should seek further advice though as I know some people have been there. Might be perfectly fine for all I know.
My kibbutz was right next to Nazareth. Nazareth is inside Israel proper by the way, and nowhere near Bethlehem so you might want to rethink your plan for doing both in a weekend. It's an Arab city (the Jews live up the hill in Nazareth Illitt) but you will have no problems there. Apart from being incredibly disappointed at what an ugly and dirty place it is. The locals are fine. That goes for all Arab areas inside Israel proper ~ Nazareth, Akko, Jaffa, some parts of Haifa.
Eilat is alright. Damn hot though. I enjoyed snorkelling over the coral reef. There's not much left of it, but it's still amazing. From there you also have the option of visiting Sinai in Egypt and Petra in Jordan. Borders are open.
I travelled on buses all the time even though they were occassionally targetted. I mean, what would be the chances of something happening on MY bus? Besides, without a car there is no other way to get around Israel. The train network is pretty limited. To be honest, the bus service in Israel puts us to shame. If it makes you feel any better bus drivers (not to mention passengers, likely to include off-duty but still armed soldiers) are very alert when it comes to dodgy passengers.
Oh bugger! I've just read you are already there. So this info is probably pointless now and you are having a great time. Oh well, I'm on a roll now.
Some other random stuff:
~ you will see soldiers everywhere carrying big guns. Don't be alarmed. This is quite normal. They are just going off/on leave for the weekend. They have to carry their weapons in case anything kicks off while they are away from their base. It has happened before.
~ Israeli people can seem very abrupt, rude actually. In the street you will often see them shouting at each other. This is how normal conversations go there. Get to know some you will find they are amongst the most hospitable and friendliest people you will meet anywhere.
~ the women are hot!
~ if you are going on the lash don't bother before midnight. You will be drinking alone.
And finally, a couple of places I like which you may be able to fit into your schedule:
~ Massada: stunning scenery, very emotive place next to the Dead Sea
~ Dead Sea: you really do float. Freaky!
~ Tel Aviv: it rocks!
~ Caesarea: loads of Roman and medieval ruins.

Mairt makes a good point. The media just reports the bad stuff that involves Israel and that's all people hear about it. I've met loads of people on my travels who freak out when I mention Ireland.

Hope this info is useful, if a little late, and you are loving Israel like I do.