Israeli officials expressed outrage today at a US State Department warning against traveling to the Red Sea resort town of Eilat, saying it proved an anti-Israel bias in US policy and amounted to “rewarding terrorism.”
The US travel advisory came in the wake of a series of rocket strikes against the city, which failed to do any damage or harm anyone. One of the rockets did, however, stray into Jordan and kill someone in a nearby Jordanian town.
Therein lies the “outrage,” as Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov insists that the State Department should have issued a travel warning against the Jordanian town of Aqaba as well.
The US, however, already cautions American citizens that rocket attacks are a danger in Aqaba as part of their travel advisory to Jordan and traditionally the State Department has not issued travel advisories as a matter of foreign policy. The Israeli outrage at the incident, however, suggests they may be under pressure to revise this policy and issue additional warnings just so they don’t offend anybody.
I visited Israel. After all, it is the cradle of the three major religions of the World.
Plus, it seems every stone on the streets of Jerusalem has seen some part of the history: Romans, Egyptians, Franks, Crusaders…
The accomodations were pretty bad, but the scenery of the Northern part of Israel was spectacular.
I didn't like our guide attitude, though. Speaking of Christianity he used the word "supposedly" in every sentence. "Here, SUPPOSEDLY, Christ walked… Here, SUPPOSEDLY, his disciples gathered… "
I am not religious, but it seemed very offensive to some of my fellow Christians. Need I to mention how the same guide spoke of the Palestinians?
Eilat is where I spent whole week. The only sensible thing in this small dank place was to grab a bus trip to Egypt, crossing the Sinai, and visiting Cairo, its magnificent Museum, market, pyramids and the night on the Nile floating in the long comfortable boats… Egypt was, actually, the highlight of my Israel adventure.
Just to get through their airport you feel violated, judged, suspected and finally dismissed by the brash, rude young police officers.
One more thing. I was there during the election. I walked on the streets of Tel Aviv, trying to make sence of what people want from their govermnent. Many young Israelis were telling me that they are sick and tired of their hawks, that they want to live in Peace with the Palestinians, and they all asked to to tell the Americans that not everybody in Israel is bloodthirsty and ignorant of the Palestinians' plight.
BTW, I am Russian with several Jewish relatives living in Russia and a few who moved to Israel. The Russian relatives are helping financially their Israeli brethren )))