Is It Safe To Travel To Israel?

Published On : 17 Oct 2024

Israel is a significantly visited country with more than 4 million foreign visitors each year due to its rich history, delicious food, beautiful beaches and vibrant night life. Of course, the country is situated in the Middle East and is at war, which could raise concerns for some people when it comes to travelling to this country. This article will briefly discuss about the current state of affairs and potential threats to travelers that can be expected in Israel to allow for a proper assessment of its safety for your next international trip.

Current Political Climate

Israel is in conflict with Palestine and the neighboring Arab countries and the conflict is sometimes active. However, most parts of the country are safe for tourists while some areas are under the threat of some groups of militants. Measures of security are tight and a lot of money is spent by the Israeli government to ensure that visitors are safe. Technically, terrorist attacks do take place within the region although not as frequently as in many other countries in the west. Currently, the US, UK, and Canadian governments consider most of Israel safe for travel with the advisory to avoid some borders.

Generally Safe Major Cities

Some of the popular tourist destinations in Israel that include Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa are still safe for travelers. Tel Aviv is Israel’s second largest city, financial and cultural center, with an active night life and Mediterranean sea coast similar to European resort towns. Over 3.5 million tourists visit Jerusalem every year, and there is always heightened security around sacred places. Haifa is also considered as one of the safest cities in the world because it almost does not experience conflict issues that are characteristic of other cities. Most of these cities have comparatively lower crime levels than most other cities in America and Europe. The violent crime particularly on foreigners is very minimal in these safe havens.

Focusing on border regions and Gaza Strip

Nevertheless, travel warnings to some areas of Israel that border Egypt as well as areas near Lebanon and Syria are still in place. Currently there is an occasional rocket battle with Gaza where rockets are fired and reach the border Israeli cities in the south. Thus, the tourists are often advised against traveling to this part of the southern region. Another border which is quite active is the one with Lebanon and Syria specifically because of such groups as Hezbollah. However, in case of travelling, it is not prohibited, but risky is advised. It is however important to understand that these border zones occupy a very small proportion of the total land area of a country. More than 99% of travelers visit the safe areas of Israel without any security threats annually.

Security and Safety Precautions

Security is a very sensitive issue for Israel because of its neighbors. Security is tight with checks being done at sites, hotels, airports and stations among other places. It is quite common to be subjected to metal detectors and bag searches whenever you are in the facility. In holy sites, there are sections which are sectioned according to sex or the category of religion. Some of the Muslim holy places prohibit the practice of public prayer by people of other faiths due to the laws. Policing is highly developed in express cities, and security forces are also present throughout the country. Be wary when in public spaces, and do not approach protests. Clip money to the minimum and distribute between the wallets and the bags. Also copies of important documents should also be kept. Obey all directives from the authorities when it comes to security searches and incidents.

As long as political situation remains an issue in close vicinity, Israel is rather safe as a tourist destination. For the main attractions like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, there are special tourist police and increased security for tourists. Rates of violent crime are considerably lower than other cities of comparable size in the global cities rankings. Criminal activity is relatively rare when millions of people visit this country every year to discover its enthralling history and culture, following simple safety guidelines. Of course, no country is safe 100%, but in terms of risks, they are low in areas where most tourists visit in Israel. Refer to the current travel advisories by your government, but do not let the fear get in the way of witnessing this extraordinary nation for yourself. With reasonable caution, first-time travelers will not only find it interesting but will also find it relatively safe to traverse the ancient and modern sites of Israel.