Israel:
Since 1948, the state of Israel has been a thorn in the side of a lot of Arabs, and the Middle East has been in a state of almost-war. Ehud Barak, elected prime minister in 1999, is attempting to go forward with a peace plan, and has opened a "safe passage" for Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank. In March, 2000, his government approved handing over more land to the Palestinians. Under this agreement, the Palestinians will control 41 per cent of the West Bank.
Barak's attempts to make peace with Syria are not going very far. Israel did, however, in late May, 2000, withdraw all its military forces from southern Lebanon.
Things looked at the boiling point in October 2000, with Israelis and Palestinians battling in the streets of East Jerusalem. Check with your embassy before making plans to go to Israel. Here's hoping the conflict will be resolved before it blows up.
In spite of the violence by irate Palestinians within Israel, (and Jewish extremists, one of whom assassinated Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin) a lot of tourists travel to Israel. It is, after all, the Holy Land, a place of pilgrimage for Christians. And it's an interesting spot, being a Jewish island in a Muslim sea. Jerusalem is a beautiful city, and the other cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, are cosmopolitan and fun. There are beaches on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Dead Sea. You can float on the Dead Sea, but you won't be able to swim; the saltwater is just too bouyant. And visitors can still live and work on a kibbutz, which is an agricultural commune. There are different types of kibbutz, so you need to pick the type where you feel you'll fit in best. Some kibbutz's are now in the tourist resort business.
Israel is a modern country with a few anomalies. You can walk the streets safely and drink the water without getting sick. If Israel ever works out its political violence problems, it will be a more attractive tourist destination.
This page last updated October 10, 2000.