Hi I am going on a Bible Lands Study Tour with about 40 people. Some people are coming from America and the rest from Australia. Basically we are whites and we are from the "hated countries" i guess you could say... Obviously we are going to be traveling on a bus because we have a lot of people.
IS IT SAFE TO GO TO ISRAEL, TURKEY, BETHLEHEM, EYGPT!! These type of places?? We are gonna go in July. The Australian smart traveller website says "please reconisder your need to travel" and for some regions it says do not travel... is this just hype?
2007-03-26 01:23:24 · 7 answers · asked by dudeitsgold 1 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Israel
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE A LARGE GROUP WILL THIS ATTRACT INTEREST AND A POTENTIAL TERROIST ATTACK?
2007-03-26 10:24:21 · update #1
Well, I just came back from Israel in february and I really can recommend Israel for a trip, you will feel safer than in many other countries. For example, did you ever think about how many people disappear each day in Brasil? How many tourists are robbed and even killed there? But it seems to be a matter of bad publicity the media wants to give to certain countries and to others not... honestly, I´ve been moving around in Israel with my collegues and also on my own and I really, really felt very safe there.
And just to mention, that in most places there really is no conflict between the Jewish and Arab population. Take Jerusalem as an example, people are living peacfully together. It´s got nothing to do with the rubbish they try to sell us on TV.
Turkey is a very nice countrey and people are really helpful and nice, by the way I think that Turkey should be regarded as European country, as it´s more modern in many ways than many East European countries belonging to the EU.
My friend lives in Turkey and I go to see here each year. I really enjoy my stays there a lot. In Turkey nobody would regard you belonging to a "hated" counrty... don´t worry about that...
Egypt: I´ve been there 3 years ago for the last time and personally speaking I noted nothing "strange" there. You should regard the fact, that in Egypt traditions are different from European way of life and meanwhile in Turkey you can do whatever your pleased (obeying the laws of course), Egypt indeed is a Islamic countrey, very moderated, but still you should adapt your behaviour to the circumstances.
But anyway, there is no obvious danger there...
You can visit Bethlehem if you like, there are mant trips offered for people interested in visiting that sight and once again, there is no need to be afraid...
I am 34 years, a woman, I am Spanish and Jewish... and not afraid of travelling to all these mentioned places on my own or with company.
You should live your life and not being afraid of living... that´s my way of thinking...
2007-03-26 03:41:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anita P 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I was very intrigued with Turkey, however I found the people there with the exception of a couple, were rude and cold. It was hard to find anyone who spoke English or arabic working in the airport, I know their official language is Turkish, but I thought they would know arabic because they muslims, and most islamic countries learn Quranic arabic. I thought turkey was nice to take a tour, but I just wouldnt feel safe to go back. Check with the justice department on Turkey, I have heard of human right violations against Turkey in the past. Israel, I think you would be fine. There are many many tour groups that go there.
2007-03-27 12:55:12 · answer #2 · answered by InquisitiveMind 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Israel is very safe. You have nothing to worry about. There is security everywhere. East Jerusalem, where many of the holy sites are in the Jerusalem area, can be volatile at times but I don't think that you, as tourists, should have to worry about that. Israelis love Americans and Australians.
I've been to Turkey and can tell you that it's a safe place as well and that, from my experiences, they love tourists there and many people speak English and are very hospitable.
I haven't been to Bethlehem, but I've heard from friends who have, that it's a reasonably safe place as far as Palestinian cities go. But I'd check with various travel advisories on this one.
Egypt is probably less safe, especially the Sinai Peninsula in light of recent terrorist attacks against tourists there.
2007-03-26 09:11:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
yes of course israel.
ive been there manyyy times
well i was born there but i do still visit
and it might get harder to get in without and israeli pssport though im really not sure??
2007-03-26 22:07:11 · answer #4 · answered by ellie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
israel is safe relax
2007-03-26 17:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Israelichick 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure you want to risk your life? Beats me.
2007-03-26 16:45:09 · answer #6 · answered by Fanano 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
only one way to find out. good luck
2007-03-26 08:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by apu 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋