current tensions and security threats
Replies: 46 - Last Post: Nov 20, 2012 10:36 PM Last Post By: emelio
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16
It's your life, and it's your decision to take. Some people might decide it's safe enough to go, others might decide it's not looking good and they do not want to go. The IDF has just mobilized 75,000 reservists and many think this is going to be a large scale war, but... others think it's just PR and that there will be a cease-fire in three days. Welcome to the Middle-East!Personally I'd not let my family travel to Israel right now, but Laketraveller thinks the opposite. Everyone has a different opinion.
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JonMW,The only point to notice regarding your plan is that you should avoid the beer sheba area when driving from jerusalem to mitzpe ramon.
From Jerusalem head east on route number 1 then south on Route 90 along the Dead Sea. Then leave Route 90 at the arava junction and head west on route 25 through yeruham joining Route 40 near sde boker. From there you can continue south on Route 40 towards Mitzpe Ramon and further on to eilat. On your way back you can go by the same route or just drive on Route 90 from eilat all the way north until the northern end of the Dead Sea where you turn west to Route number 1 back to Jerusalem.
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I cancelled my trip to Israel yesterday. Reason is simple: I don't want to take any risk and made my family worried about me. Perasonlly, the purpose of travelling is Safety first . Of course, everyone has his /her own interpretation and different decision making.20
I'm scheduled to leave for Tel Aviv tomorrow. Still debating whether to go or not.21
I will repeat what I said 4 years ago, during the previous major flare-up with Gaza.As far as safety is concerned, you really have nothing to worry about, as you won't be touring in areas where there are rockets falling. The odd rocket shot at Tel Aviv is certainly nothing to worry about. Your chances of being involved in, say, a traffic accident are much greater than being anywhere near a Hamas projectile. :)
However.....
The purpose of your trip is enjoyment and/or relaxation. If the current situation in Israel will preclude this - that is, you won't feel 'comfortable', despite not being in any real danger - then you shouldn't come. OTOH, if you have already booked your flight and/or accomodation and they are non-refundable, I would recommend coming anyways, as you really have nothing to lose - and you may be pleasantly surprised. :)
It's a completely personal decision. All we can do is supply relevant information. Only you can decide. Good luck!
22
It's up to you to decideIf being in Tel Aviv and hearing sirens and going into an apartment building entrance seems exciting to you in any way (there is very little to fear in terms of bodily harm) then you should come.
All rockets hurled this way so far have either fallen into the sea, or were intercepted by Iron Dome missiles.
If you think you'll get very anxious at the sound of the alarms, in a way that can harm your well being and emotional stability, then cancel.
27
After the sides mention the words "cease fire" it generally takes 2-3-4 days to reach a ceasefireAs for catw facts - I think about 17,000 reservists were called up and the cabinet talked of approving a total of 70,000 if needed. No rockets were fired at Jerusalem - only toward - probably landed a good 30 km away in the Gush Etzion area
General consensus is that it's just Netanyahu & Co. flexing muscle to try and get better cease-fire conditions. Though of course it could act against him, as he could be upheld by the electorate to stand behind those threats...
It's your call JonMW - you've got all the facts
28
I don't know what will happen and I'm not going to try and guess or opine on what Jon should do.I will however, make an observation. Over the past 20 months or so there have been limited flare-ups of violence, demonstrations, gunfire and kidnappings in Egypt and catw has maintained they are isolated incidents, do not effect tourist travels and no one should cancel their plans to vist Egypt. catw stated that tourists just need to avoid certain areas and they will be safe. catw has repeatedly mentioned that purse snatchings are about the most serious threat to a tourist in Egypt. I agree with that position.
Now however that a very limited situation has erupted in Israel catw is advising people to cancel all their travel plans and not visit unless required.
No one could argue that there has been more violence, more deaths, more military action, more demonstrations in Egypt over the last 20 months than have occured in Israel; so why the different advise?
29
The situation looks unstable. It's not confined to any one region, per se, with targets in Israel (outside of Gaza) ranging from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and even rumored at one point Eilat. I would wait a few days and see if this is confined or whether it becomes more like civil war because of the combination of 75,000 IDF troops at the Gazan border combined with 1,000 rockets now launched from Gaza.I wasn't too worried about Cairo, personally, because there were no deaths and the violence was confined, and it didn't involve troops and tanks and full-scale rockets. Right now, there are a lot of deaths in Israel, the violence is not confined, and some are nervous that this may lead to a full civil war if it doesn't deescalate shortly.
I would not go right this moment, personally, because it's hard to say how it will change, and there are many Israelis saying they are too scared to leave their houses all over the news. If they don't want to come out, to me that says a lot.
Hopefully peace will be restored shortly.
I hope this helps?
