Messianic Journeys

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Is is safe to travel to Israel?
This is our most frequently asked question. In short: YES, it is SAFE.

For anyone who watches the news, Israel appears to be an extremely dangerous place. However, reports on television and in the newspapers focus so intensely on isolated events that these small hot-spots seem widespread across the country.

In fact, the vast majority of the State of Israel is safe and untouched by the violence so commonly pictured in the media. Statistically, Israel is far safer than any urban area in the United States, as you can see from the analysis below of Chicago vs Israel, with 2009 statistics. 45 million people visit Chicago every year while in 2009, 2.7 million visited Israel

Population:
Israel--7.3 million People
Chicago--2.9 million People

Victims of Terrorism in Israel vs. Victims of Homicide in Chicago during 2009:
Israel--3 civilian deaths at the hands of Palestinian terrorists
Chicago--453 homicides

On a statistical basis:
Terrorist Activity in Israel = 1civilian death per 2,433,000 people (about one per 2 1/2 half million)
Homicides in Chicago = 1 death per 6,402 people

Or to put it another way:? It is vastly more dangerous to visit Chicago than Israel, in fact, a person is 6000 times more likely to experience a violent end in the city of Chicago than to be hurt in a terrorist attack in Israel.

Although danger is unlikely in Israel, our tour will not minimize the need for safety. In fact we prioritize it. Our travel will be in private motorcoaches, and our routes and itinerary are carefully selected to avoid areas where violence might be possible. For example, we will not visit Hebron, Samaria, or Shechem/Nablus because these sites are in the West Bank, and of course Gaza is not on our route.

We are in constant contact with the Land Agent throughout the trip. Should any potential problem arise, we will immediately change our itinerary to remain well clear of any trouble spot. Our Israeli driver and guide are trained to look out for danger and maintain your safety as a top priority. Likewise, as a country, the Israeli government makes the security of its citizens and its guests a primary obligation.

People ask me if I'm nervous traveling to Israel and I always say, "Yes , but only from the time I leave my house until I get to O'Hare Airport. Once I'm off the Chicago expressways, I feel perfectly safe." Israel is a safe place and no one needs to fear going there.