Responsible tourism in Israel

Respecting cultures

As Israel is a spiritual and religious land not only for Jews and Christians but also for Muslims, being sensitive to cultural traditions is very important when it comes to travelling responsibly here. Although Israel is, in general, very liberal in its attitudes to fashion, sexuality, popular culture etc. religious traditions still hold great sway. Therefore, it is important to dress appropriately in places of worship as well as in conservative areas, such as Mea She'arim in Jerusalem, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, and home to Orthodox Haredi Jews. These dress codes apply to men and women, and the rule of thumb being to keep as covered as possible. And at holy sites women, be they Muslim, Jewish or Christian, must cover their heads, so travel with a light scarf, that isn’t too hot, to cover your head and shoulders when visiting temples, mosques and other religious places. At Jewish sites, men may also need to cover their heads with a yarmulke cap.

Be aware that there are two national languages in Israel: Hebrew and Arabic. It is striking, however, how many tourist websites don’t offer an Arabic language option. Hebrew, English, French and Russian seem to be the most common, but Arabic rarely features.

Shabbat
It is important to understand the tradition of Shabbat, or Jewish Sabbath in Israel. This starts on Friday evening at sunset and lasts until early Saturday evening. A very holy day, it is observed by many people, businesses etc. Traditionally it means that work, using vehicles and cooking are forbidden, as is the act of switching electricity on and off. So, in short, public transport shuts down, shops and restaurants close, hotels have limited lift service, tourist attractions close and the whole place goes blissfully quiet for a day. Which is actually a wonderful thing to witness in this modern age. So don’t moan about it; just bemoan the fact that many other countries in the world don’t take time out for quiet contemplation every week. Or, of course, there is always the wonderful option of heading into Arabic quarters of, say, Jerusalem, where life goes on as normal.
 
What you can do
Make sure you pack modest clothes and a headscarf for women, before you come. Read up on cultural issues and etiquette not just within Jewish communities but also Arabic ones, before you visit. Also, learn some smatterings of both Hebrew and Arabic before you go, respecting the fact that there are two national languages in Israel, even if not always obvious in the world of mass tourism.

Be sensitive in your discussions around politics and religion and read up before you go. It is worth remembering that for many people going to Israel to visit religious sites, the conflicted borders are almost invisible. It is, for them, the Holy Land. Not Israel, not Palestine. And in fact, many holidays are sold as trips to the Holy Land for this reason. Don’t ignore security warnings. Never leave your bag unattended, and do what the security authorities advise. It’s not scare mongering. Israelis are resilient people, they love café life and good living, and this sense of joie de vivre means that it is easy to overlook the fact that it is still a country living in dangerous times. So be wary, and always follow local advice. It is very common to have your bags searched by security at shops, restaurants etc. And also sometimes cars are stopped and have their boots searched. Always best to carry your passport as ID.
It goes without saying, but sadly, we do still need to say it, have the utmost respect when talking about the Holocaust or visiting memorial sites. After WW2, many survivors came to their new homeland of Israel, created in 1948. Take great care when talking about the Holocaust, and never, never, make jokes about it. Be very wary when it comes to buying antiquities in Israel, as you can easily be sold a fake. Or, for example, you might think you are buying Roman glass, but it may have been mixed with modern glass and then reblown. Also, if you are caught at the airport taking out illegal antiquities, the fines are severe. Scuba diving is hugely popular on the Red Sea. Make sure you adhere to responsible diving practices, respecting the fragility of coral and only use a diving company with responsible tourism credentials. Dead Sea products are very popular as gifts, such as salts and dried mud. There is a worldwide movement to boycott certain Israeli products because of the dispute over Occupied Territories. We do, however, recommend supporting the local economy when you are in Israel, as local farmers, Israeli and Palestinian need to survive. Dead Sea products are particularly controversial, however, because there are just a few large Israeli companies profiting from them, and the Sea does lie in Occupied Territories. And, as such, the Sea is being exploited without permission or taxes paid to Palestinian authorities. Don’t go hiking off the beaten track without expert guides. In certain areas, around the Golan Heights, for example, land mines are a big issue, although these areas are well signposted. The heat can be extreme, so always carry water, lots of it, keep covered and don’t go hiking in the height of summer, unless it’s early morning or late afternoon. Be careful in the Dead Sea. Although famous for floating, every year people do drown. The rule is to only float on your back. Weak swimmers sometimes attempt to swim breast stroke, on their fronts, and their legs are raised higher than normal, so their heads become submerged. Which causes them to swallow water, panic and struggle. Don’t add to the traffic congestion in many cities in Israel. The public transport system, in particular buses, is one of the best in the world. In fact, the bus company Egged is the second biggest bus company in the world.