| Everyone has their own perception of
what Israel and the Palestinian Territories (or just 'Israel' for
brevity) are about: it’s a travel agency package of beaches and
sun; it’s the Promised Land of the Jews; it’s a ticking time
bomb; it’s the birthplace of Christ. And while it is all of these
things, it's much more besides.
Israel is a bustling, noisy, modern country. It’s best not to
arrive with preconceptions of spiritual epiphany. If you do, you'll
almost certainly have them confirmed, but in doing so you run the
risk of missing the best that this fascinating country has to offer.
If you want to understand Israel, take time to visit the new,
cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, dive the Red Sea at Eilat, explore
some of the country's thriving national parks and float for hours in
the salty stillness of the Dead Sea. Look beyond the
larger-than-life figures of the past and have a chat to your bus
driver or hostel owner.
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