It would be interesting to find out how many people leaving Israel won't be coming back after being ruthlessly ripped off.

are the exaggerated high hotel prices. I am planning my second trip to Israel and flight plus hotel make up some 1.200 Euro. For that money I could go to Cuba and stay in a 5 star all-inclusive resort. The problem is, you do not get that, what you pay for your money in Israeli hotels. 150 euros (more than 800 Shekel) for a tiny room with a shower. In other countries (e.g. Turkey) you can get a suite for that money. I think Israel has to promote its tourism. To tell travellers: We have a beach and a wailing wall is not enough.

In Israel, there is an information gap around how to stay. This is soemthing the Tourism Ministry should promote,because the fact is Israelois THE most affordable country in the western world if you get ONE thing: Apartment stays. All acrossed the nation are small apartments either in buildings or attached to homes --and they are easily found in Jerusalem on the JerusalemHomeAccomendation Association website and in other places by googling BandB Israel--or going through craigslist for renting someone's aprtment while they are out of countrey ((I stayed a month at an actresses apartment in TA for 300 a week. I shopped at the local market and cooked at her place)--The average price is 60 USD per night! The home apartments almost always have a kitchenette and are always very clean and it gives a wonderful sense of being in a regular neighborhood instead of a generic hotel. Besides this Israel also hasmany boutique hotels--I stay at one on the beach in TA and it is wonderful, and serves complimentary Israeli breakfast buffet every morning --for 90 USD a night! It has wifi and is across the street from a very nice restraunt and the beach,and promenade walk to Jaffa (15 minutes away!) No, I am not sharing the name because it is small (just 40 or sorooms) and I don't want it to be stuffed next time I go. Do some digging and you will find Israel is extremely affordable. This is especially true if you learn how to use sharoots (vans) between cities (basically ask people or taxi to the bus station) and Egged Bus line or the train between TAand Haifa, for distances. Eggedand Israel Railways have websites. They are EASY to use--much easier than Eurail,that's for sure!. You may also consider joining Servas.org,the international travel group,which has hundreds of Israeli host families,who will put you up for 2 nightsand share one supper with you--the goal being to exchange cultural stuff. In conclusion I would say Israel is fantastically easy to travel around--I have gone for extensive visits by myselfand tripped allover using public transportation,walking, staying in the types of places mentioned,and I never had to resort ot a crummy hostel (would not recommend this for single women in the middle east) or low end stays and I feellike I saw far,far more of Israel than most people,with very little effort. I loved waiting at the train station talking with localpeople,seeing the views out the train window, or grabbing sharoots between Jerusalem and TA and taking the buses with soldiersand regular people,and I now have several friends who were first my hosts in home accomendation stays If you go to Jerusalem stay at Ruti Barkai at Barkai Studios,which is a fabulous old house with two small apartment studios a five minute walk from Jaffa Street and 10 minutes to Jaffa Gate--you can even sit in her garden next to her potting studio. Her place is on the Home Accomendation website Never say Israelis expensive--You just aren't trying!

There is urgent need to build 2-3 star hotel -in order to encourage tourism.

There is a rare tetrad of solar and lunar eclipses that started and ends 2008 to 2010 that happen on Jewish Holy Days that signal war in the Middle East with Israel. That has been the sign in the heavens for Israel's previous wars, too. There is another tetrad of solar/lunar eclipses that occur on Jewish Holy Days from 2014 to 2015. There will be another war then. How does this all fit Bible prophecy? Daniel in the Bible said there would be a Covenant with Death that is confirmed (renewed) for seven years during which time the Jewish Temple would be rebuilt. If the Covenant of Death that with peace shall destroy many is the 1990's Resolution 666, that was confirmed for seven years by the New ENPI (New European Neighborhood Partnership Initiative) in late 2007. The Jewish Third Temple was rebuilt off site (not on the Temple Mount in preparation for moving it to the Temple Mount). Resolution 666 has destroyed many by peace with the bombing of Kosovo and Bosnia and other nations, ostensibly for peace purposes since the UN and EU are such peaceful entities. If you don't think so, watch the documentary "Katanga" from WRM for 30 dollars available at 18950 Highway 441, #308, Mt. Dora, Florida 32757. Three and a half years after the confirmation of the Covenant with Death (and with the New ENPI confirmation of Resolution 666), there is a review. A leader goes into the Jewish Temple and declares he is God when he is not. That can be at the off site rebuilt Temple! If so, 2010 lines up with that and with the end of the tetrad of solar and lunar eclipses on Jewish Holy Days. Three and a half years after that, is Armageddon and the return of the Jewish Messiah. Rabbi Yehoshua said there would be signs in the heavens of His return. So, 2010 is going to be an exciting year in the Middle East. Rabbi Yehoshua said when you see the abomination of desolation (false god in Temple claiming to be God), flee to the mountains and don't go back into your homes. Daniel saw a slaughter on the West Bank, so homes there should be fortified and the Jewish occupants armed. Even so, they will die or be raped if they do not flee to the mountains. Petra is the place they are told to go to. Is Petra Jordan or the USA? Literally, it would be Jordan. But the wings of an eagle (USA planes) takes the West Bank Jews who flee to a place of safety, so that could be the USA. That will be more blessings for America which is in desperate need of Y'hovah's favor, having offended Him by coercing Israel in years past to give up land for peace, etc. in phony peace deals everyone knew the Palestinians would break. Go to Israel in 2011. But 2010, not so good.

Hello Mea. Thank you very much for your advice. I agree with most of that what you have written. Israelis are in deed friendly people (at least most of them). Public transportation and food is very cheap. And if you follow the main toruist routes, the infrastructure is good and cheap. TA - Haifa by bus 25, by train 27 shekel. In Germany you would pay 5 times more. But if you want to leave the common tourist route, it is getting problematical. To explore the Negev and to go to Netivot, I wanted to stay in Be´er Sheva (strategic planning !, :) ). But there is only one hotel in Be´er Sheva, which is very expensive. A kind of youth hostel which offers single rooms is not reachable via internet. But I will check out the websites you have mentioned. Thank you very much for this information. By the way! Perhaps you are right. I should search much more, but in other countries it is easier. :) Kindest regards and thank you for the info

All statistics are brought down to simplicity when the tourist has plenty of money in his pocket.However,with uncertainty of troubles that abound in this area,nothing can be seen in an exuberant light.Together with the problems that exist in countries around the world,Israel will be lucky to see any improvements for the long term.There is a "Posuk" in the Torah..."Israel will be a lender to the nations",which only goes to prove the point that the Shekel will become stronger to the disadvantage of the tourist.It"s a case of not counting the chickens before they are hatched .Tourists ,enjoy yourselves whilst you can.

why would anyone want to visit israel... its just like any other western/european country, big buildings etc what these tourists are visiting are palestinian/syrian lands... east jerusalem betheleham hebron, golan heights "israel" has no luring sites for visitors... your kidding me if you think europeans immigrants can come live in the middle east, call themselves "israelis" and think they own palestine... ha ha funny...israel will not, and shall not last the test of time... you europeans might aswell start packing to go back to poland,,,yoru proper homelands... and seeing as no one is going to leave ariel settlement, by prepared for an arab majority israel... "israel" /palestine, will always be arab!

Let's ignore the scary thought that some mulsims and their families were jews that some time in the past converted to islam out of fear (crazy, I know), but there are many arab jews, including myself, that have their roots in the middle east, even Israel. A person can call themselves a palestinian arab, but that is confusing since that still defines some jews living there before the state of Israel was created. What you mean is that the palestinian refugees from Jordan will always exist, and that is debatable. Maybe Israel will eventually expand back to it's original borders from ancient times, wouldn't that impress you:) Hope you enjoyed this mini-history lesson!