Israel ( מדינת ישראל ), the Palestinian Territories ( فلسطين ). A voyage to Israel & the Palestinian Territories, Middle East - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Jaffa, Dead Sea...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQhku-CA7uI/Tyg3vlfGP7I/AAAAAAAABdc/WshGE95IEc8/s1600/Israel,+Palestina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQhku-CA7uI/Tyg3vlfGP7I/AAAAAAAABdc/WshGE95IEc8/s640/Israel,+Palestina.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>  <br /><div class="destinationMapLink clearfix"><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a> </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsHyYBRVSTc/Tyg32QFwi0I/AAAAAAAABds/u6CONf2DOCw/s1600/Israel,+Palestina+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsHyYBRVSTc/Tyg32QFwi0I/AAAAAAAABds/u6CONf2DOCw/s320/Israel,+Palestina+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AkNcgWF0EKw/Tyg30RJoVQI/AAAAAAAABdk/gPipfampBxo/s1600/Israel,+Palestina+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AkNcgWF0EKw/Tyg30RJoVQI/AAAAAAAABdk/gPipfampBxo/s320/Israel,+Palestina+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><b>Travel Alert:</b> The security situation in Israel remains extremely uncertain, particularly in the border areas around the Gaza Strip and southwest Israel, and along the border with <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=361092">Lebanon</a>. Check travel advisories and news services before travelling. See <a href="http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinations/israel.shtml">Safe Travel</a> for updated government warnings and the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/default.stm" target="_blank">BBC</a> for the latest news updates.</i><br /><div class="mpuWrapper " id="mpuInContent"><div class="mpuInner"><div class="adContainer" id="adContainer_mpuInContent"><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3c0d/0/0/%2a/l;44306;0-0;0;56846335;4307-300/250;0/0/0;;~okv=;ctt=middle-east;cnty=israel-and-the-palestinian-territories;tnm=overview;rsi=J08781_10159;rsi=J08781_10291;rsi=J08781_10287;rsi=J08781_10052;rsi=J08781_10205;rsi=J08781_10335;rsi=J08781_10337;~sscs=%3f" target="_top"><img alt="Click here to find out more!" border="0" src="http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif" /></a> </div></div></div>Israel, or Palestine depending on your politics, is one of the world’s oldest travel destinations. Everyone from Moses to Mark Twain has dreamed of going there. The appearance of prophets seems to be dwindling and the Crusaders have long since hung up their swords and shields, but travellers still come in droves, almost magnetically, to this land still considered holy by countless millions. <br />The appeal of Israel’s ancient and holy past may be obvious enough but many new arrivals are surprised to see that it’s much more than a lesson in history. While <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=361047">Jerusalem</a> is a dazzling amalgam of past and present, and a contested hotbed for the world's monotheistic faiths, the whole country is a tightly packed ball of everything from Mt <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=361041">Masada</a> and the Negev desert to the beaches of <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=361059">Eilat</a>. On a leisurely weekend you could surf, ski, sip wine, ride horses, go clubbing in Tel-Aviv or enjoy some cutting-edge theatre – and that’s just the start. You can also work on a kibbutz, volunteer at a West Bank school, float in the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=361040">Dead Sea</a>, hike across the Israel National Trail…<a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYaAjwTtJ00/Tyg36fVLgpI/AAAAAAAABd8/6TMamGlpLHE/s1600/Israel,+Palestina+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYaAjwTtJ00/Tyg36fVLgpI/AAAAAAAABd8/6TMamGlpLHE/s320/Israel,+Palestina+4.jpg" width="320" /></a>Like the patchwork of new arrivals at Ben-Gurion airport, Israel is an amalgamation of peoples who arrived over centuries of time, each one staking their claim to the land. Territorial disputes led to violence, which in turn made for some epic accounts in the Bible – not terribly dissimilar to what is playing out on nightly newscasts where you are today. But contrary to popular belief, Israel is not a war zone to be avoided, and it has such rigid security that travel is surprisingly safe.<br />Somewhere along the line, politics and the bitter facts of life in this uncertain land will nudge their way into your trip. And while Israelis and Palestinians love nothing more than to argue, muse and prognosticate over the latest political currents, it’s best to leave your own opinions at the door. Enter the Holy Land on a clean slate and you’ll never watch the nightly news the same way again.<a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText">Show in Lonely Planet</span></a><br /><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H8zLAUq7HLY/Tyg34AQ2keI/AAAAAAAABd0/GRTZUXx4kZA/s1600/Israel,+Palestina+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H8zLAUq7HLY/Tyg34AQ2keI/AAAAAAAABd0/GRTZUXx4kZA/s400/Israel,+Palestina+3.jpg" width="257" /></a><br /><h3 class="themeHeading"> </h3><h3 class="themeHeading"> </h3><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading"> Make it happen</h3><ul><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/shopSearch?q=israel-palestinian-territories">Shop for travel guides</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/israel-palestinian-territories/">Search hotels</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/flights.do">Cheap flights</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/insurance.do">Travel insurance</a></li></ul></div><h3 class="themeHeading"> More about Israel & the Palestinian Territories </h3><ul><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/places">Places in Israel & the Palestinian Territories </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/weather">When to go & weather </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/transport/getting-there-away">Getting there & around </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/practical-information/money-costs">Practical information </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/history">History </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/work-study-volunteering/work">Work & study </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/travel-tips-and-articles">Tips & articles </a> </li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/israel-palestinian-territories/">Hotels</a></li></ul></div><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3c0d/0/0/%2a/s;44306;0-0;0;56846335;33734-479/303;0/0/0;;~okv=;ctt=middle-east;cnty=israel-and-the-palestinian-territories;tnm=overview;tnm=sponsor-large;rsi=J08781_10159;rsi=J08781_10291;rsi=J08781_10287;rsi=J08781_10052;rsi=J08781_10205;rsi=J08781_10335;~sscs=%3f" target="_top"><img alt="Click here to find out more!" border="0" src="http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif" /></a></div>

Israel ( מדינת ישראל ), the Palestinian Territories ( فلسطين ). A voyage to Israel & the Palestinian Territories, Middle East - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Jaffa, Dead Sea...

  Travel Alert: The security situation in Israel remains extremely uncertain, particularly in the border areas around the Gaza St...

Read more »