Hello sorry I left the thread as the app was playing up and then I got busy with the catching up with life upon my return. I am pleased to report I’m back on British soil without any misfortune.
@Mumsntfan1What I meant by brutal wasn’t just being asked questions. I was shouted at in the face and felt quite intimidated at times. I also saw a Brit being physically pushed without any verbal interaction. Perhaps visa was the wrong word to use? The ETA/printed card that is issued after security clearance. I wasn’t expecting extra rights but I wasn’t expecting security to close off roads and historic sites declaring no tourists but then allowing other groups of tourists to enter. 😬
@AMuffinWalloper Oh the food!! The food was amazing- it is hard to pick a favourite but one of my favourite meals was at a terrace cafe in a place called Battir. We stopped off there on our way to a different city and the food was delicious. They put on a breakfast banquet for us which included approx 12 different dishes which we shared like tapas. The view from the cafe was that of allotments/plantations and a Roman pool. Aside from that meal, I really enjoyed the fresh fruit juices, the kunafe, falafel wraps and baklava in the old city. I found myself buying food/drinks for the sake of buying something as the local shop owners were so friendly and kept offering us free lemon & mint drinks each time we walked past. The hospitality from the local people was heartwarming.
In response to your second question- a higher than normal military presence is understandable. If they checked ID’s and saw all was in order and let you proceed to where you’re going then that would be fine. It’s the random stops (of people that look a certain way) asking for ID then refusing entry for no given reason. I didn’t expect any exemptions, just equality and a protocol that is applied fairly and consistently.
@dairydebrisI’m so sorry I didn’t meant to sound as though I wasn’t enjoying my trip- I really did but was just taken aback by some of the things I saw and the way in which we and others were treated. It did feel like a privilege to be there and emotional too but again it was very bitter sweet as I saw others being turned away. I hope that one day I can visit again and will feel differently about it.
Just saw your second comment- I was in Jerusalem and it was not an attempt at Israel bashing. In fact, I’ve tried to actively avoid that.
@PurpleThistle7It’s not that I thought being British would give me privilege. It’s that I thought it would be a security and protection to be treated fairly which I didn’t always feel myself and those in our group were. As outsiders, we will never understand the full picture. Only those who live there and have seen the country change over the years will know. It was fascinating speaking to some of the locals.
@Bernardo1I do watch the news. Jerusalem is far from the West Bank and Gaza.
@MangetoutmangetoutiI am a parent playing on Mumsnet. I went to a country that I wasn’t sure if get to visit in the future with the way that things are going. As I said previously, I have friends who have been numerous times in the last few years and reported that Jerusalem and tel Aviv are a world away from what you see in the media.
@samG76 The residents being so pleased to see tourists was very humbling. These people who have very little themselves kept trying to give us small tokens of appreciation like fruits.
@BeachtasticIt was quite exhausting and emotionally draining at times but that was mainly because I wasn’t expecting to see the blatant disparity. I wasn’t prepared for it and thought that some of the things I’d seen on social media was somewhat exaggerated. As for British tourist cash being filtered away - i suppose my logic was more of the help the little guys-shop local mentality. The religion aspect matters less so but it’s clear that there is lots of Jewish tourism in Israel so that sector already received lots of support.
@SharonEllis@dairydebris I assure you I have better things to do than make up an AMA about my trip 🤣
@ChessBess You say this but my flight there and back was full of tourists. I have friends who have visited multiple times in recent years. Tel aviv has a huge social scene and is a world away from what we see on the news. As for tourist groups in Jerusalem, there are plenty - not as many as I suspect there used to be but in the week I was there, I noticed a number from Romania, America, South Africa, Germany and the U.K.
I have tried to address each of the comments/questions. If I have missed one or two, it’s not intentional so please don’t throw accusations my way! 😆