Five hundred million Arabs,

  Israel is God's chosen nation, though they are Lo-Ami (Hosea 1) today, and blinded (Rom 11) They are a nation, and God is getting them ready, and they will face the Tribulation (Matt 24).

Update: Our own country, the good ol US, will face many bad things, as long as we keep trying to divide the chosen nation, miss rice needs to keep her nose out of Israel affairs, and mind her own. If we keep trying to change Israel, and compromise with her, God will shake this nation to It's knees, and we are seeing it happen now.

The Jews deserve Israel look at what they've gone through in this world, but palestinians have gone through a lot too. Basically they both deserve it but there to stubborn to live in peace.

The motherland, am yisrael chai

I understand some people's concern over how Israel is really Arab land, but here is a question. Don't Jews deserve a place to call home too? I mean they have had a difficult history and some people don't even want to give them land that is about the size of Vermont. Anyway about how the USA has wronged the Native Americans. Look we were a lot less cocerned back then and we made mistakes and hopefully we will learn from them. Also pushing people off land is a cycle pretty much. I mean some indians pushed the animals off the land. Stronger indians push the other indians off the land. And so on.

Look at any old map and it will say palestine.

if i wanna see a country full of a$$holes, ill just stay here in the states.

A few days ago, A Jewish woman showed me why she no longer lived in Israel. She showed me pictures of buses that had been blown up, pictures of the massacre at Jenin (seeing a decapitated palestinian baby made me shiver), pictures of an Israeli woman blown to pieces, and finally, pictures of her dead family. Israel is not a place I'd like to go with all that constant war going on.

I am an atheist, and do not approve of the ruling Likkud government's policies. Neither of these facts has kept me from having the time of my life in Israel, visting for several months back in the early 90s. Israel is a GREAT place to visit, whatever your religion and poltics. Given the current unrest, now is not the time to visit (though you'd probably get a real bargain on your hotel room (-:, but when things improve there are many reasons to visit: 1. Fascinating historical and archeological sites-Masada is especially impressive, a mountain-top fortress out of Lord of the Rings that must be seen to be believed. 2. Modern infrastructure and mentality- Easy to get around, the food is safe to eat, the shops open and close on schedule & the buses run on time, people can speak their mind without being thrown in a dungeon... 3. Seeing the amazing acheivement that is modern Israel. The original colonists were amazing people-they truly turned a desert into a graden, transforming a barren strip of land devoid of natural resources into a modern, developed country. I went to Israel over ten years ago, a happier time; for years now all the news has been bad, and the country founded by brave, largely secular pioneers is sinking into a swamp of religious superstition, corruption and militarism-much like my own country. But I believe that any traveler to Israel will still be inspired, as I was, by its great acheivements, regardless of how tarnished they have now become.

Ive never been, but have seen numerous documentaries about the area and it looks amazingly beautiful. Both Israel and Palestine have a long and interesting history, the old city of Jeruselum, bethelehem etc. One day I hope to visit but at the moment its unfortunately been torn apart by religion.

Israel is an interesting country to visit. I was there in April of 2000, just before the Intifada; the first thing that caught my attention was that people simply wanted peace on both the Palestinian and Jewish sides. Politics in both the Arab and Jewish communities are controlled by nationalist extremists, but they don't represent the people. Everybody was in a very positive mood. The Jewish state may only be 55 years old, but the history of this land goes back a long way, people have inhabited it since 10,000 BC. Jerusalem is a beautiful city, in every corner there was something new and interesting to see. I enjoyed visiting the Temple Mount, the Cardo, and the old city of Jerusalem while I was there. The countryside also has plenty to offer. The Galilee is a nice area, very green and hilly. Capernaum is an interesting town that demonstrates how the Jews lived during the Roman occupation. I can't forget to metion the attractions in the Negev Desert. Visit Masada and the Dead Sea. Masada is a mountain fortress in the Middle of the desert that was used in the Jewish resistance against the Romans in 70 A.D. The views of the desert and the Dead Sea are great. Try to go to a beach in the Dead Sea; it is a fun but certainly strange feeling to float on the saltiest sea on Earth. Ceasarea, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv are all interesting places to visit along the Meditteranean. It's unfortunate that this land is in an area of high conflict. It has a lot to do with the fact that Israel holds one of the largest acquifers in the Middle East. Water is the most valuable natural resource in the region; guess why Syria is insistant on getting back the Golan? You also have many different cultures laying claim on this small sliver of land; it's one of those areas of the world where different culture systems meet. The country is very dynamic, but it's a tinderbox as well. Religious overtones and claims make some even more dogmatic. Politics aside, this is one of those places that travelers should get around to seeing. This small piece of land is very important.

Benny Leonard, Barney Ross...and The Three Stooges vs. the world's most dangerous enemies(the Nazi's weren't big on blowing themselves up) and crazier UN-style(not kosher)criticism than Northville Mental Hospital.

it didnt surpirse me too see Israel have such a low rating. There are so many anti semites in this world its disgusting a terrible. I hope one day people will stop hating on someone beacuse of there religion race or culture. I give israel five stars because it is the Holy Land and Gods land i believe.

Democracy in the Middle East sounds like a good idea.

i love israel and miss it everytime i leave it..i still miss it and want to see it again. it makes me proud to be a jew everytime i visit. this will always be a jewish state.. AM YISRAEL CHAI!

I honestly have nothing against the country of Israel, and respect their desire for survival. But, and I don't mean to generalize, hasn't the USA given Israel billions of dollars over the years to help them guarantee their security, yet we stole our own Native populations land from them? So much for favoring one groups soverinity over anothers. As another reviewer pointed out cleverly, my ancestors came from Europe in the early 1800's, their farmland stolen in a battle between Catholics and Protestants. I think they would just laugh at me if I went over now and demanded my ancestors farm back.

I guess it's a good tourist destination if you go to see the religious sites. I, however, am an atheist so I would not have a reason to ever go there. Contrary to popular belief, Israel does NOT have a long history as they only became a country in 1948, unilaterally declaring independence before the UN had given them permission to. Also, I can not accept the legitimacy of this nation, because the only justification for its existence lies in scripture, and I happen to believe the scriptures to be fiction. It is a definite fact that the Hebrew people lived there at one time, but were evicted over eighteen centuries ago and have been wandering ever since. My ancestors came from Europe, and many of them were forcibly evicted, but that does not mean that I can go back to Ireland or Poland or the Netherlands and shoot the people living there and move into their house because it had at one time belonged to 'my people.' The violent terrorist acts of a select few Palestinians are indeed abhorrent, but what other choice do they have? The average Palestinian lives in no more than twenty square blocks of rubble, as they are not free to travel to other parts of the West Bank or Gaza. They live in these ghettos under the constant threat of having their house demolished as punishment for belonging to the same ethnic group as a terrorist. They have also been forced, at gunpoint, to live in these ghettos for over fifty years, so I don't blame them for feeling completely helpless and hopeless and bitter and filled with hate. They shouldn't kill innocent Israeli citizens, but I understand why they do. Whatever, I could rant for days about this annoying little country that seems to cause more than it's fair share of trouble around the world, but there are other forums. Maybe we should evacuate everyone, Israelis and Palestinians alike, and nuke the land into an unliveable radioactive glass parking lot.

Beautiful country with a deep history and great culture. The center of Western Civilization as we know it and true heartland.

Why isnt this the richest country? Its all friggin jews!!!! I dont think they have a problem with people not paying their taxes huh?? I mean imagine that everyone was trying to steal you job! Wow Israel is officially hell.

The only democracy and supporter of the US in the whole region. Its surrounded by Islamic states with crimanals in power.

Beautiful country, beautiful people and the only place in the Middle East worth a visit (ok, Egypt is worth visiting too). Be sure to spend some time in Jerusalem...a wealth of sites for both Jews and Christians...stunning.

a holy place but also a dangerous place to visit

The Jews claim that Israel (with the new expanded boundaries) was deeded to them in perpetuity by their god - and the rest of the world, especially America, is expected to accept that claim at face value and behave accordingly. North American natives ("American indians") made a similar claim - that their land was given to them by the Great Spirit for their use. However, all dieties aren't equal in the eyes of Washington, and the native Americans got screwed out of their lands by American forces while the Jewish claim to divine-right occupancy is back up by American military support. Is it any wonder a million Muslims (and a few hundred thousand native-Americans) hate us with such an abiding passion?

It's difficult to distinguish between the Israeli military and the redneck law enforcement officers from the American South's past. They brutalize a minority without hesitation and then ask the rest of the world to accept their tactics. It's time for the US to sever its ties to this brutal government and let them sink or swim on their own.

I have nothing against Jews, but is this worth it? How much violence must be endured for the sake of this brutal little nation? Israel was a much better country under Rabin. Sharon can jump in a lake. He must have learned nothing from the Holocaust.

Israel is not a country, it is a zionist establishment that uses terrorism to illegaly take land.No more aiding terrorism and supplying weapons of mass desruction for Israel. Long Live Palestine!

We should stop funding these morons, I just hope one day lobbying will be made illegal. Without the US they are nowhere, and they are the source of the arabs hate of America. Never actually met an Israeli I liked so I give this place a 1 star.

My rating will change when they get out of the West Bank (all of it!) and change their apartheid policies.

The source of Arab hatred of America. We should cease the $3 billion/year we provide them with aid and the sale of advanced weapons so they can brutalize Palestinians. It is shameful and a black mark on the country of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln.

A bigoted nation by definition, Israel discriminates against all non Jews. Formed by terrorism and political manipulation, Israel is Satan's counterfeit. I have never been there but I heard on the news terrible things are going on in that country and around it. I also understand that America gives more foreign aid to that country than any other. I wonder why? NOT! But, anyway God Bless them. I am tried of telling people about them, but God said to stand up for what is right and to Bless your enemies. So God Bless. One last thing, that land is soooooo important now because it will be the landing site of a giant cubed shaped spaceship (REV 21:2-27). The Angels, Jesus, and even God will be in that ship and they will let some of us take from the 'tree of life' (REV 22:14). And a loud voice will proclaim "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race..." (REV 21:3). So, of course, those in the know want to secure the future landing site of the "Holy City". Those who now control Israel know this, and so should you. God Bless the Jews. And may God's dwelling soon arrive. A warning to those who would fight, Revelation points out that Satan is currently misleading the armies of the world to lead them into battle against the 'beloved city' (REV 20:8). They will be destroyed by the fire from heaven. So, don't go there to fight in an army. File your conscientious objector status now!!!

an amazing contry, visit it!!!!

Israel is a great country.

i live in israel and it's really a great place. i wish you will all come here after things will cool down and it will be safe to walk around the cities here. it's the best place to live in and i would never live. the people here are nice, you can make new friends just by walking down the street. you can start talking to people you never seen before and they won't tell you to get lost. you have a great weather here and it's always fun. eilat is a great city and tel aviv and jerusalem are nice to. any way with all thats going on here all you see on the news is a war zone but actually it's a beautiful placeand it's very fun to live here.

This would be an interesting country to visit if it were not so geographically undesirable, especially in the wake of your occasional intifadah and the ever-popular Knesset free-for-alls. And I thought Lebanon was a basket case. Gotta give props to its maddening ability to be able to maintain some semblance of order in the nightmare that is the Middle East. But I can't rate it much higher than a 3 simply because I believe the Palestinians have as much right to be there as the Israelis do.

in fact i live in israel and with all the truble with all the bad things that happening this is still the best place to live at

The only true democracy in the Middle East. All the other surrounding arab states are either dictatorships or pseudo-democracies.

Must see for everyone! The history and culture is almost overwhelming and the people are very friendly and intelligent. The country side DOES look like Texas! Too bad the area is swept up in conflict...

The birth place of Jesus Christ. The ONLY savior on earth.

a great biblical country

Israel is a great country,too bad it is controled by army generals insted of civilians.The diference is that army generals think only of war games and how to use the armed forces to atchieve security,on the other hand a civilian leader meaning a person from people with a political backgroud,could probably find different ways to accomplish security.Now Israel spends approxemetly about 10 billion dollars on the millitary,can you even begin to imagin what would that money make to improve our living and beautify our country and may be even better security with our nabours.

Israel is a nation with an incredible priveledge therefore an incredible responsibility.As I write they are at the crossroads once again fo it is 2 years past the first jubilee of the remnants return to Jerusalem.At a time when many nations are in inexcapable debt I am pondering the mathematical logic in the laws of jubilee. Abraham had 3 wives each of which gave birth to a nation- Sarah gave birth to Israel which is Zion Hagar gave birth to Ishmael which is Islam Keturah gave birth to Midian who took a parcel of land and called it the same, it was there that Moses recieved the covenant and the daughter of Jethro the Kenite(who is the eyes of Jesse) for his wife. In as much as many things are being said by Israel and Ishmael about Jerusalam, where is Midian and what has he got to say about the city of Malkizedek?

Israel is a great country

Israel is such a wonderful and beautiful place. For a such a small country, there is so much diversity in terms of what it has to offer. It has some of the most historic sights in the world, beautiful beaches, great hiking, and even areas to ski. To visit Israel as a Jewish person is truly a life-changing event. You can't help but leave with a greater appreciation of your Jewish heritage and faith. The real crime of the current conflict is that it is sure to hurt tourism (one of Israel's biggest economies). Of course, that is exactly the reason that people must still make every effort to go.

Simply Fantastic. The culture and history are just the beginning.

I'm glad Netanjahu isn't prime minister there anymore! Anyway: Israel still does discrime the palestinians! Since they are such a rich country: Why can't they live up to their religion & support their poor neighbours?

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I can't wait to go back.