top of page

WARNING: You’re About to Enter a Dangerous Country…

Writer: Suzanne Lieberman
Suzanne Lieberman
Aug 27
4 min read

At least, that's what you might think if you're planning a trip to Israel from thousands of miles away.



One question I am asked frequently is: “Do we need a bulletproof bus?”


Last month, a family planning a trip to Israel wanted to visit some places that, from their perspective, sounded a little… adventurous.


They wanted to know whether they needed a bulletproof vehicle. Then they asked about an armed guard.


I explained that, for private tourists, neither is normally necessary. After convincing Grandma, they were totally fine - and had a great experience.


But I completely understood why they had asked in the first place.


Because when you’re sitting thousands of miles away, Israel can look very different from the way it looks when you’re actually here.


It reminds me of a story, I heard from a Guide, more than 20 years ago, during the 2nd Intifada.


At the time, the PLO was shooting at Gilo, a neighborhood on the southern edge of Jerusalem, from a village on the other side of the highway.


For people outside Israel, the conclusion was obvious:


Jerusalem is dangerous. Don’t go there.


But people who lived in Jerusalem knew better.


It wasn’t all of Jerusalem that was dangerous. It was Gilo.


And people who lived in Gilo knew that it wasn’t all of Gilo. It was one particular street.


And the people on that street knew that it wasn’t even the whole street. It was one particular building.


And the people in that building knew it wasn’t the whole building. It was one particular floor.


And, eventually, I think the story went something like this: It wasn’t even the whole third floor. It was the kitchen; next to the refrigerator in apartment 11 that was dangerous.


It sounds ridiculous. But there’s something very true about it.


When you’re far away from a situation, the danger can seem much bigger than the actual reality of the situation.


And I see the same thing today.


Someone hears that there has been an incident somewhere in Israel, and suddenly they’re wondering whether it’s safe to travel anywhere in Israel.


They hear that a particular area has security concerns, and they assume that the entire country is affected.


They see images on the news and imagine that this is what everyday life looks like everywhere.


And then they arrive.


And they discover something rather different.


People are going to work. Children are going to school. Restaurants are full. Buses and trains are running. People are shopping, going to the beach, visiting museums, hiking, touring and, yes, getting on with their lives.


That doesn’t mean there are no risks. Of course there are. Israel is living with a very real security situation, just as other countries have their own risks and dangers.


But risk and everyday reality are not the same thing.


And one of the things I love about Israel is something else that visitors sometimes don’t realise.


In Israel, you are rarely very far from people who can help if something does go wrong.


There are soldiers. There are police. There are emergency medical teams. And there are an extraordinary number of civilians who volunteer in these fields as well.


I was reminded of this just this week.


I was travelling on the Jerusalem light rail when an American woman standing near me suddenly fainted.


Within seconds, several people had jumped in to help. They had medical training. They knew what to do.


And within minutes, she was being taken to a Magen David Adom unit that was only a few minutes away.


Nobody stood around wondering what to do. Nobody panicked. People simply helped. Somebody gave her a drink. Someone else gave her a protein bar.


Because that’s Israel.


So, do you need an armed guard?


Sometimes, a client will feel more comfortable knowing that their guide carries a weapon. And if that makes them feel more relaxed, I’m perfectly happy to arrange it - if possible.


But there’s a difference between feeling safer and actually needing additional security.


Most visitors don't need to travel around Israel in a bulletproof vehicle with an armed escort. They just need good advice. They need someone who understands the current situation. They need an itinerary that makes sense.


And they need someone on the ground who knows when circumstances change and when they don't.


Because Israel isn't the Wild West. And it isn't one giant danger zone.


It is a country where, like anywhere else, you need to be sensible.


But it is also a country where millions of people live their everyday lives, surrounded by an infrastructure of security, emergency services and people who look out for one another.


So if you're sitting overseas, watching the news and wondering whether Israel is really safe enough for your family to visit, I understand the question. I really do.


But the answer is often very different from what you imagined.


More Thoughts on Meaningful Travel in Israel



 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page