i have to tell you that i, as an israeli and a jew AGREE WITH YOU 100% . i don't agree with you because i have had a chance to see post army israelis behavior abroad because i have not had a chance to see it. so, i take your words to be the truth. the reason i think you are 100% correct in your analysis is because I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE, INTERACT AND SOCIALIZE WITH MANY ISRAELIS LIVING IN THE USA. believe me, mr. nuriel, that the behavior these youth exhibits abroad is, unfortunatelly, the very same behavior of israelis even in their adult lives, 40's, 50's, 60's in the usa. they are rude, insulting, aggressive, insensitive, competitive, jealous, conflict oriented, argumentative and basically obnoxious to the hilt. jealousy and conflict, rumor mongering and gossip, insults and co,petitiveness is the rule of the game, not only amongst each other, but with others that do not belong to their group. they are insular and insulting to american in general, calling them stupid or uncultured. they are critical of everything in their path and constatly find ways to demean, insult and put down others. it is a shame, but the older israeli generation residing in the usa is no better than the youth you are describing here. their sense of entitlement and pseudo superiority is sickening. yes, i am an israeli and a jew, so please, no one can blame me for anti-semitism here. i have been with them, i have interacted with them, i have socialized with them and finally, I HAVE LEFT THEM IN DISGUST. limor n.y. usa

this article describes israelis in general...not just travelers...i have been in israel for thirty years...and israelis are pigs,,,,period

speak only English.Israelies have no manors,they dont even know how to hold a knife and fork.They talk loud and have no respect for other people on the plane or even at a restaurant.We are GODs chosen people soo we can do what we like.Israelies time too shape up.

you should see them while flying in any plane , they behave like they own the thing and like if the staff is their own staff , they usually get drunk , speak loudly and with no manners , plersonnaly i no longer travel with thim in the same plane

They act the same way in Israel. They should behave any differently abroad?

Look, I'm pretty pro-Palestinian but this article is way too harsh. Israelis are fine. Sure you have a bit of a reputation for being rude and doing drugs and stealing hotel towels etc. when you travel. Half of that is uninformed rumors and anti-Semitism; the other half is true but plenty of young dumb horny Americans or Norweigans or anyone else do the same stuff when they're traipsing around the world. If Americans were judged based on what drunken frat boys do in Cancun over spring break, the whole world would bomb us. To the extent that people criticize Israel because of what's happening in the territories, you would do well to listen to them. Other than that though, just be on your best behavior when abroad, and if you do make a fool of yourself you'll probably grow out of it later on.

While accepting that many Israelis do misbehave as tourists I cannot accept your all encompassing statement as to the behaviour of Israelis in general. Maybe you simply haven't adjusted!! In other countries lies and nastiness are couched in fine words and clever disguises, here people are more honest but they are also kinder, more helpful and undoubtedly better people who care more for their communities than anywhere else

This is an invitation to look at your selfs in a new mirror , a clean one to see your facts and to face your mistakes and to stop hanging your bad behavior on the anti-simitis and you should know that the world is completly changed and they see the things more clear not like the old time , you can not depend anymore on the Holaucost to win the sympathie of the world , how you behave now out and in Israel is what the world see now , the siege for Gaza will put your reputation more down , it's a crime against humanity ... wake up before it's too late .

Your pile of generalizations tongue-lashing towards 7 million people show that you can't see the whole picture, only because you have once been offended by some Israelis. Listen to your words: "jealousy and conflict, rumor mongering and gossip, insults and competitiveness is the rule of the game, not only amongst each other, but with others that do not belong to their group..." "unfortunatelly, the very same behavior of israelis even in their adult lives, 40's, 50's, 60's in the usa." Come on, you know this is bullshit. There are many Israelis living in the US, who are warm, friendly, polite, caring, have American friends and part of them are even married to American women. Gossip, romours, jelousy or impoliteness exist in every human society and in this respect, Americans, Europeans or Latin Americans are no different than Israelis. Limor, your words and not anti-Smite - they are pure ugly racism. I hope you will stay in NY, very hopeful that you will never set again your foot in the land of the people you hate so much. Yours with love and not 'disgust' A Proud Israeli.

COMING FROM RAT INFESTED FILTHY LOUD MOUTH NEW YORK,NUMBER 6 SHOULD TALK,THAN WE HAVE OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBOUR LIVING IN A FILTHY HELL HOLE IN GAZA OR WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE SEEN A PLANTED TREE IN RAMALLAH,SO SOME ISRAELI ARE LOUD MOUTHS AFTER 3 YEARS GOING ON PATROLS NEAR JENIN,WHAT DO YOU EXPECT.

It's not a "generalization." It's their culture. They do indeed behave that way. I saw it when I had the misfortune of living among them in Israel--getting pushed onto the busses, cut in line, and ripped off everywhere I went--and I see it now that I'm back here in civilization. The difference is that here in the civilized world Israelis don't blend in, so their disgusting attitudes and lack of behavior, culture, tact, and education really stands out.

It's sad how this little country turned nearly half of our people into ignorant pigs who spend every waking moment acting like they're in a Middle Eastern shuk. I tell you, as an American Jew, I loved living in Israel, but HATED living among Israelis. Don't move there if you like being treated with dignity and respect, because you won't get any. Ever.

When I lived in Israel, I generally found these stereotypes to be the case. Forget about the travelers, Israels act like this in Israel. I have also done the same backpacking circuits as many Israelis, and even though I have never had problems with them on the road personally, I'd say that they were universally despised by everyone. Israel is a lovely country, the women are the most beautiful in the world. and it is amazing what the Israelis have created the last 60 years there, but Israelis desperately need an attitude adjustment.

Sad but true, that's why I choose my holiday destinations where Israeli's can't go (I have dubbel nationalities).....

It's commendable of you to defend your new homeland and it's inhabitants, but, you will grow out of it. The longer you are in Israel the more you will see that Israeli's talk one way and act another. That's the nice ones. We have a lot of work to do on ourselves. The only excuse is that the country was born of war and hasn't known a day's peace in all it's history. When it comes to manners I am reminded of the adage "when you are knee deep in aligators it's hard to remember that you came to drain the swamps."

Can't stand them most of the time.A normal person goes to a Hotel and steals a Towel (stealing is stealing by the way and is not to be encouraged)but Israelis sometimes steal the whole Hotel..

Built a new country out of Rock and Sand,heroes of the six-day-war and all that jazz,but they are just an example of how not to be,and yes it pains me to admit this and I am sorry to say it.Their rudeness and lack of sensitivity is staggering...

Twice...second time to apologise.

A Reporter asked a Pole,a Russian ,an American and an Israeli the following question: " Excuse me,what's your opinion on the Meat Shortage?" . The Pole replied "what's an Opinion? . The Russian replied "What's Meat?" The American laughed his head off and said"What's a Shortage?" And the Israeli said : 'What's EXCUSE ME?"

To say the least...

When they are brown-nosing President Bush...

While I'm not about to make excuses for bad behavior, there was just an incident on Long Island where a young man was trampled to death by a rampaging mob attempting to get into a Walmart store to take advantage of the "Black Friday" sales. That being the case, I'm not so sure that we Americans are in a position to criticize Israelis.

As a transient resident I fully agree with the article. I avoid most Israelis here in Israel like a scourge. Generally I have experienced them to be also arrogant, agressive, unfriendly, conflict ridden and to be know alls and no nothing. When travelling overseas I observe most Israelis are avoided like the plague. It is indicative of how the country is run by its leadership who screw their citizens. One has to be a masochist, hero, religous fanatic or mentally impaired to live here.

They may not be that good but they are not in the same league as the revolting English by and large.True that many BA Cabin crew dread being on the flights to and from TA but by comparison to Int'l flights out of the UK and back with Brits on give me the Israelis anytime.

I have often wondered how come Israelis manage to return alive after travelling abroad. If they act the same way to others as they do here, it is indeed a miracle.

it spreads from the left wing fascist hippies who think they own the world to the right wing fascists sitting in the west bank destroying the homes of others! This pattern has to do with the fact that we were killed in the holocaust for being passive...so naturally the solution is to be aggressive and rude then no one will harm us! In either case we are still a pariah! So very sad for us and the rest of the world.

I know my fellow countrymen very well in Israel and abroad and I will say this that per capita there is no better group of people in the world. Yes by and large we do care for one another. Ken echpad lanu. True modern times have eroded many values in newer generations and to this I blame our consistent lack of good education in public schools. Education is the key, in the last 20 yrs education of a liberal secular leftist mindset have poisoned many of our youth. Then exssaerbated (spelling) when going into the army. Many dont even have clue why they are in the army. Many dont even understand what Eretz Yisrael is all about. And this creates the ugly "tzachtzachim" we see abroad. However not so with the dati leumi or religeous zionist. You will rarely if ever find the ugly israeli when wearing a kippah sruga. Because they have been taught values and do know what Eretz Yisrael is all about. And you dont find them trekking all over with backpack screwing everything in a skirt, smoking weed like its going out of fashion etc. etc. But overall no matter how others or even we ourselves percieve ourselves I tell you this much we are a beautiful and caring people and yes we may shove in ques etc. thats coz of the harshness of life in the ME it has an effect not always the best. But like the old example of the fruit "Sabra" rough and prickly on the outside but sweet and juicy on the inside, which does describe us. But dont let the negative attitude of a sizeable minority within us give the impression of the whole of our people. For that would be a lie. We are a people unlike many others, we are a beautiful people even if you dont get to see it all the time. I for one dont wish to be identified with any other people then my own, for I am proud of them, so should you.

I wanted to open up a British -style Fish and Chip shop on the Tel-aviv seafront but Israelis told me don't be a Fryer...