Just about the most important place in the world for three major religions, and argued over since the start of recorded history. The fertile crescent of land at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean that is Israel has been conquered, divided up, put back together, and fought over more times than any other.
Since Moses called it the Land of Milk and Honey, and led the Jewish slaves out of Egypt to the promised land, every person arriving in Israel has had their preconceptions about what they will find, and no matter what you expect, you will find it, but in order to experience everything that the country has to offer, rather than just leaving with your expectations fulfilled, it is wise to leave your ideas about what Israel is all about at the airport.
A modern country which buzzes with excitement and where ancient monuments and revered holy places compete with a modern tourism industry, Israel will initially baffle you as you try to find out where things are, amaze you with areas of amazing beauty, dazzle you with history, and shock you with how much it differs from what you expect.
You can get cheap flights and holidays to Israel throughout the year, although the hotels and airlines do tend to get very busy over major religious festivals such as Easter, and Christmas, when pilgrims travel to the country from all over the world.
Facts for the Traveller:
Name: Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Capital: Jerusalem (or Tel Aviv-Jewish, Gaza City- Palestinian)
Area: 21,056 Sq KM
Population: 6.2 million
Language: Hebrew, Arabic, English
Flight Time: 5 Hours from London
Currency: Shekel
