Is Israel safe to visit now? The answer may surprise you
After 20 months of war between Israel and Gaza, many travellers are uncertain about the security situation in Israel. So is Israel safe to visit now? That is the question on the mind of many who are eager to travel in the immediate future, and for those who have cancelled their past travel plans. While the war was brought onto our doorstep on October 7th, 2023 and the inevitable response by the Israeli military to stop current and future attacks, not to mention the plight of the hostages held in Gaza, the reduction of incoming tourism is in large part due to constant coverage of the situation by the world’s media.
This is not to say that the war is not ongoing, but rather that the reality of day to day life within Israel is far safer than the perceived atmosphere by many who do not live here. When one is constantly saturated with media coverage of the ugliness of war, the protests against Israel on many college campuses, and the bombardment of lies and propaganda displayed on social media, it can be very confusing to judge the reality of the situation on the ground.
The reality is that despite decades of tensions with our neighbours, Israel continues to be one of the safest countries in the world for tourists to visit. From a recent study, Israel is ranked number 5 in the entire world for safety, and outperforms the USA, UK and many European countries. This fact alone reflects the need for doing one’s homework when deciding on travelling to any international destination. Israel enjoys peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt on it’s eastern and southern borders, and the subsequent benefit of trade, tourism and security between them.
And while our northern borders with Syria and Lebanon have been hostile in the past, there is a new hope of cessation of hostilities and a path to a brighter future due to a shift in leadership in those countries. Many analysts believe that the timing of the invasion of Israel by Hamas on October 7th was to create a conflict in order to sabotage a formal recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the most important source of Islamic theology in the world.
While the brave soldiers of Israel continue to fight in Gaza, life in Israel goes on. Tourists are still visiting, though predictably not in the same numbers as before the war began. The main tourist destinations, such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, Nazareth, Bethlehem and the Dead Sea are as safe to visit as ever. On the contrary, this may be an ideal time to visit Israel. Fewer crowds of tourists at popular historical sites means a more authentic and memorial experience in one of the most fascinating parts of the world. It is reminiscent of my visit to Venice between bouts of Covid that the country suffered. It was probably the only chance I would get to experience the city with a lack of crowds, and probably the only reason for me to visit when I did.
The confidence in the security environment is reflected in the return of international flights to Ben Gurion airport, Israel’s international travel hub. As the conflict and regional tensions have begun to subside, many international airlines that previously suspended service are now operating again. Delta Airlines and United Airlines for example restarted flights weeks ahead of schedule. They join a growing list of airlines that are now operational, including Air France, KLM, Aegean Airlines, Wizz and many more. A full list of the current status of operational airlines, including ones scheduled to restart flights in mid-June can be found here: https://www.passportcard.co.il/en/airlines-flying-to-israel/