Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that your work would send you to a country with significant safety risks (I say this as a Jew who has been to Israel). I know people who were there this summer during the bombings and were stuck and it was a horrific experience. Is the trip truly necessary? If so, I agree with the advice around avoiding public transport, crowded markets, etc. Will you have a local to help guide you? Israel is a very special and beautiful place, but I can't say I'd go right now...

Was this written 20 years ago? You do not have to avoid public transportation or crowded markets. Probably safer in crowds there than you are in the US.

Ummmm… ok? So you need to make sure your hotel has a bomb shelter on every floor but everything else is perfectly safe? Gotcha. I’d avoid those things but have at it next time you go.

The currently risks almost are exclusively due to missile and drone activity from nearby countries / terrorist organizations, not suicide bombers or mass shootings, which were way more common decades ago.

The risk from successful terror within Israel is extremely low, likely less than the risk of accidental injury in a vehicle accident or other mishap of the type which can occur anywhere in the world. Few countries are as well-prepared to respond effectively to threats, especially post Oct 7. No reason to worry at this point but situational awareness makes sense in case things change. That advice holds true for global travel to any destination, since political instability, military threats, internal civil unrest, outbreaks of disease and other bad things can happen anywhere, any time.

I have a friend who lives there with her family including young kids and though it's harrowing at times she is and feels safe. She feels put through the wringer though.

So while I know that and believe her (I am a white dark blonde non-descript female), I wouldn't be comfortable going mostly because I don't know the ins and outs of what to do and how it works, nor am I comfortable proactively traveling to a war zone to take a side, appearance-wise.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve traveled to Israel before on business but I wouldn’t go now. They are waging a genocide and claiming it’s necessary for their own security, so why put your own safety at risk. Do a Teams call if you must deal with them at all.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that your work would send you to a country with significant safety risks (I say this as a Jew who has been to Israel). I know people who were there this summer during the bombings and were stuck and it was a horrific experience. Is the trip truly necessary? If so, I agree with the advice around avoiding public transport, crowded markets, etc. Will you have a local to help guide you? Israel is a very special and beautiful place, but I can't say I'd go right now...

Was this written 20 years ago? You do not have to avoid public transportation or crowded markets. Probably safer in crowds there than you are in the US.

Ummmm… ok? So you need to make sure your hotel has a bomb shelter on every floor but everything else is perfectly safe? Gotcha. I’d avoid those things but have at it next time you go.

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that your work would send you to a country with significant safety risks (I say this as a Jew who has been to Israel). I know people who were there this summer during the bombings and were stuck and it was a horrific experience. Is the trip truly necessary? If so, I agree with the advice around avoiding public transport, crowded markets, etc. Will you have a local to help guide you? Israel is a very special and beautiful place, but I can't say I'd go right now...

Was this written 20 years ago? You do not have to avoid public transportation or crowded markets. Probably safer in crowds there than you are in the US.

You are safer than anywhere in Tel Aviv.

I'm surprised that your work would send you to a country with significant safety risks (I say this as a Jew who has been to Israel). I know people who were there this summer during the bombings and were stuck and it was a horrific experience. Is the trip truly necessary? If so, I agree with the advice around avoiding public transport, crowded markets, etc. Will you have a local to help guide you? Israel is a very special and beautiful place, but I can't say I'd go right now...

Go and have a great time, it’s a beautiful place full of history.

You should have a great trip. Travel insurance. Most modern hotels have bomb shelters, if necessary. Enjoy.