Established as a modern nation in 1947, the land of Israel
actually goes further back to biblical times. Soon after, the
country went through several wars, coming out the victor. Today,
violence still happens in the country, but this is true of any
place on the planet. For many people, the holy places in Israel
are worth any risk to see firsthand. And even those who aren't
religious have plenty of things to see and do in modern Israel.
Interesting Israel Facts:
In the entire Middle East,
Israel has the only government that is a liberal democracy
The Dead Sea in Israel is
the lowest point on the planet.
Geographically, Israel is
diverse - with mountains and snow and deserts really close to
each other.
One of the main reasons people
travel to Israel is the religious sites. Both Christians and
Muslims hold many places in the country sacred for different
reasons. Whoever you are, there are many sites mentioned in the
bible that people flock to year after year, making tourism one
of the biggest industries in modern Israel.
When it comes to ancient sites visited in Israel, Masada (which
means fortress) is one of the most visited spots in the country.
It is a place to see ancient palaces and fortifications. Today
it is a World Heritage site because of its importance to
understanding human history. This is an area that's popular, but
there are other places that people favor as well.
The Temple Mount is one of these places. Holy to Christians,
Jews, and Muslims, there is a lot of contention over the area,
but that doesn't stop people from all over the world from
flocking here. Whether it's the wailing wall (all that's left of
the ancient Jewish temple) or the Mosque that is now on top of
the Temple Mount area, there's something interesting for people
of all faiths.
While the Palestinians are still an issue and some have safety
concerns, this doesn't stop millions of people from all over the
world from coming here. There's a reason so many people come
here. In Israel you can look into the past through the ancient
cities or sites or to come to marvel at modern Israel and how
far they've come over the years.
Here are some of the sites you'll definitely want to see when in
Israel:
Jerusalem - Some say this
is the most important city on the entire planet. Whether or
not you agree, it's an intriguing city.
Yad Vashem holocaust
memorial museum - Important for many reasons and something
everyone should visit once if possible.
The Mount of Olives - See
the place where Jesus from the bible taught.
Tel Aviv - A modern miracle
and Israel's second largest city, Tel Aviv is a cultural mecca
of sorts.
Bethlehem - Birthplace of
Jesus.
There are many more places to see in Israel, but these are
some ideas to get you going in the right direction. You'll want
to take your time and plan your trip to Israel carefully, but
once you get there you'll most likely be glad you went.
About Israel