NoteVisitors should check official government advice before traveling to the Palestinian National Authority Region or to Jerusalem, as these areas may be dangerous owing to political tension.
Israel is a remarkable, fascinating and controversial country. For many it is, above all, the Holy Land. Religious attractions include the walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (the Holy City and cradle of Christianity, Islam and Judaism); the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth; the serenity of Galilee and the ride across the River Jordan,
the river in which Jesus was baptized.
JerusalemFor Christians, Jews and Muslims, this is one of the most revered cities on earth. Attractions range from religious emblems and relics of antiquity to modern items of interest. Religious tours are available from West Jerusalem and include Mount Zion and the Tomb of David. Other sites are the Tomb of Judges; Yad Vashem, the memorial to the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust; and Mea Shearim (‘the hundred gates’). Visitors in East Jerusalem may follow the Way of the Cross, enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, see the Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Jaffa and Damascus gates. The Israel Museum in Jerusalem houses the
Dead Sea Scrolls and is worth visiting.
Excursions: Three important excursions are to the Abu Ghush, En Karem and the Hill of Rachel.
Tel AvivAn exciting city offering commerce, culture, nightlife and sandy beaches. The
Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra draws audiences from all over the world. The Museum of the Diaspora is internationally famous. The bustling Carmel Market is a popular place to visit. In 1950, Jaffa was united with Tel Aviv; situated a mile from the city, this is one of the oldest ports in the world. It has archaeological finds reaching back to the third century BC, a beach, lively nightlife in Old Jaffa and a flea market.
The NegevThis area, once largely desert, is now being irrigated and farmed in a settlement movement started by, amongst others, David Ben Gurion. Beersheba and Dimona are both of interest, but Eilat, in particular, is the place for tourists. Eilat is the best-equipped seaside resort in the Middle East, and a paradise for underwater enthusiasts. There are several attractive places nearby; these include the Timna Valley National Park (near Eilat).
Galilee and the NorthPlaces of interest are Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) itself, Nazareth, the Bet She’arim Catacombs, Megiddo, Tiberias and the Mount of Beatitudes. The Tourist Office, together with a consortium of interested parties, is actively promoting Galilee as a tourist destination. Emphasis is being placed on the environment, sports, culture, history and health, with spa resorts (which have been used since Roman times) especially featured. The Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology celebrates many finds in the region. Haifa, on the coast and Israel’s leading seaport, is both an industrial town and an ancient fortress. Further south, notable attractions include the artists’ colony of En Hod and the Roman ruins at Caesarea.
The Dead Sea60km (41 miles) long and 17km (11 miles) wide, the Dead Sea is an inland lake lying 400m (1320ft) below sea level in the lower part of the Jordan Valley, flanked by the Judean Mountains to the west and the Moab Mountains to the east. It has more minerals and salt than any other body of water in the world and is renowned for its rejuvenating and health-giving properties. There are a number of health spas and resorts in the area. A range of cosmetic and therapeutic products, containing Dead Sea minerals, are available worldwide. Spas are found in the Dead Sea region offering a variety of treatments, including mud packs, salt massages and salt water pools.
Masada (Mezada), on the left bank of the Dead Sea, is where the once luxurious palace of King Herod still stands (and site of the famous seige), perched on a clifftop. It can be reached by cable car or a winding footpath and there is a breathtaking view of the Dead Sea and the pink mountains of Moab from here.
Other interesting sights around the Dead Sea include Mount Sodom, a 13km- (8 mile-) long mountain range made up of pure salt which has many caves with extraordinary hanging salt formations, and Qumran, where the
Dead Sea Scrolls, written by Essene scribes, were discovered in ancient pottery jars. The discovery of the Scrolls was made in 1947 by an Arab shepherd looking for a stray goat. Seven scrolls were found, the most famous being the scroll of Isaiah, which is 1 foot wide and 24 feet long. Excavations at the site found more than 900 pieces of scrolls in more than 30 caves. Except for two scrolls written on copper, all the scrolls were written on leather and papyrus.
The Palestine National Authority RegionFor further information about the Palestinian National Authority Region, contact the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism (see
General Info section).
BethlehemThe city lies 750m (2500ft) above sea level, on the ancient caravan route, 10km (6.2 miles) south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem is, of course, most famous for being the birthplace of Christ, although it is also well known for olive woodcarving and mother-of-pearl jewelry, which, today, has developed into a modern industry.
JerichoOne of the prime sites of interest in the region for historians and visitors alike is the ancient town of Jericho, which dates back more than 10,000 years and lies 260m (853ft) below sea level, 36km (22.5 miles) east of Jerusalem. Known as the ‘City of Palms’, Jericho is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited sites. The walls and towers of Jericho are 4000 years older than the pyramids of Egypt, and the domestication of animals took place 1000 years earlier in Jericho than in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Other sites worth visiting in the area include Deir Quruntal and Mt Temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting and meditating and where a monastery was later built. Deir Quruntal can be reached on a steep and fairly difficult path.
ElsewhereThe city of Hebron lies in the mountainous region south of Jerusalem, at an altitude of 1000m (3280ft). Hebron is an unspoiled town, with many narrow and winding streets, flat-roofed stone houses and old bazaars. Other places worth visiting in the area include Nablus, the major commercial, industrial and agricultural center in the northern West Bank and renowned for olive oil soap, wrought gold and
Kenafa, a tasty oriental pastry; Rammallah, whose cool climate makes it a popular summer resort, with many restaurants and an international feel; Samaria and Gaza, located on the western Mediterranean coast, 32km (22.4 miles) north of the Egyptian border and, owing to its strategic location, a long-established economic regional center for trade in citrus fruits and other goods.
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