The summer months in Israel, from June to September, are not only synonymous with the blistering Middle East heat but also with hordes of excited tourists exploring the multitude of ancient and holy sites, soaking up the sun along the Mediterranean shoreline, and enjoying Israel’s renowned cuisine.
But this year, for the third summer in a row, Israel faces a season with very few visitors. Due to the uncertainty of a war that has been raging since October 7, 2023, Israel’s tourism sector is facing what many industry insiders are calling a “catastrophe.”
For this edition of The Jerusalem Report, we wanted to remind readers who have not been to Israel since the war began – as well as those who have managed to visit, and even those who live here – of the many experiences this country still has to offer.
In the cover story, I talk to people in the industry about the challenges they face, as data shows that tourist arrivals are down to less than a third of what they were during the same months in 2023.
The Report’s staff writer, Chani Kaplan, visits Tel Aviv to find a bustling city despite recent Iranian missile strikes and a severe lack of tourists. In another article, Kaplan also delves into Israel’s desert wineries, which were recently recognized collectively as a protected Geographical Indication wine region.
Israeli photographer Shimon Perlstein showcases some of his most stunning images of the region with carefully crafted photographs of the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, and beyond.
Meanwhile, members of The Jerusalem Post and Report staff visit hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Eilat, checking out locations that might be familiar but deserve credit for striving to remain open despite the lack of foreign tourists.
Feature writer Tania Shalom Michaelian outlines 12 lesser-known heritage sites scattered throughout the country that are well worth a visit once you’ve explored the major tourist attractions.
Meanwhile, journalist Shanna Fuld looks at how small businesses in the Western Galilee, which has been under constant fire since October 7, have been working to rebuild their battered tourism industry.
The Post’s Tobias Siegal offers a glimpse into Rehovcharlotte, an initiative that surprises diners with a unique culinary experience. In another article, he profiles a group of young immigrant chefs hoping to break into this competitive yet revered industry.
Moving away from tourism, Aviram Bellaishe, vice president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, takes a deeper look at the US-mediated framework deal signed between Israel and Lebanon last month.
Feature writer Dana Ben Shimon talks to analysts inside Lebanon about the battle to remove Hezbollah from their country, while Andrew Fox, of the UK’s Henry Jackson Society, explains why removing Hezbollah from Lebanese soil is essential to peace and security along Israel’s northern front.
Rounding out the issue, Judah Taub, author of the new book Israel’s Potential: 12 Bold Ideas, explores why Israel is failing to combat one of the newest forms of warfare: drones.
Even with the talk of war still in the air, I do hope our international readers will start thinking about visiting again after reading this issue. And for our local subscribers, maybe you’ll follow some suggestions offered here.
– Ruth Marks Eglash