Tourism
news
Towards a ceasefire: Is it safe for Israelis to fly to Europe soon?
The demonstrations against Israel in the world, tourist areas where there are hostile Muslims and do Israelis at all listen to the recommendations of the National Security Headquarters?
Experts talk about "geography of fear", and tell about ways to disguise our Israeli identity abroad
Tags
Flights
Europe
Antisemitism
The guardian of the walls
Eyal Shapira
Wednesday, 19 May 2021, 08:07 Updated: 08:56
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on general
Share on general
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
0 comments
Killed by a rocket in Rishon Lezion 11.5.21
Willow time B&B on the cliffs
White-backed eagle near a field to it in the Valley of the Springs
A pregnant mummy was first found in Egypt
Fear of arson in the Nahal Prat Nature Reserve
Azaniyat Hanegev in Chai Bar Yotvata
Khan through the tree
Hivai survived a fire in the Omar hills
The town in Alaska where everyone lives in one building
A rare bronze candle from the 1-2 century AD was discovered in the City of David
In the video: A pro-Palestinian convoy chanting antisemitic slogans in a Jewish neighborhood in London (social networks)
In recent days, following the ongoing security incidents, we have witnessed a series of demonstrations against Israel throughout Europe. In London, protesters marched on Israeli flags in front of the Israeli embassy, in Berlin a staff of the "Here" channel was attacked, and in Paris the police dispersed protesters using tear gas.
Currently, there are no travel warnings from the National Security Headquarters against traveling to these destinations, although an official at the Anti-Terrorism Headquarters told Walla! Tourism that "warnings are constantly being re-examined. Recent events have an impact on the anti-Israel discourse around the world, leading to protests and hostility. As always, there are now warnings to carry out attacks against Israelis, but there is no change from before the war." Naturally, however, the question arises as to whether it is safe for Israelis to travel in European countries these days, as well as in the near future.
"The short answer to this question is 'no'," notes Prof. Joel Mansfeld, head of the MA program in tourism resource planning and development at the University of Haifa.
According to him, this period is an example of the concept of "geography of fear".
Simply put, we create in our minds a "map" of tourist spaces that are considered safe, as opposed to those that are considered unsafe.
The same "fear map" is of course subjective, varying from person to person and destination to destination.
"Moreover, the tourist's perception of security varies between the planning stage and the execution stage of the trip, when usually, we are pleasantly surprised. At home we rely on what we see in the media, which tends to exaggerate and intensify things, but when you reach the destination, things look different." .
More on Walla!
10 examples of why you should stay away from Israelis abroad
To the full article
Demonstration in Berlin against Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip, this week (Photo: Reuters)
Journalistic attack "here" in Berlin, this week
"Opportunity to strike at the Zionist enemy"
This is the academic background to things. And what about the current situation, not subjectively but objectively? Should the Israeli tourist fear traveling to Europe in the near future?
"In Europe, there are a significant number of Muslim populations, for whom what happened at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Temple Mount is crossing a red line. Of individuals, even within communities that seem quiet and not militant at first glance. Compared to such initiatives, which are very difficult to predict, there are also formalities that may take the initiative, such as Iran or al-Qaeda, who see the current situation as an opportunity to defeat the Zionist enemy. Ours does not travel. "
Is there a direct connection between Israel's military operations in Gaza and harm to Israeli tourists abroad?
"" Unequivocally, there is a connection.It is possible that such an operation will increase the probability of harming tourists abroad.
Prof. Mansfeld is also surprising and talks about the connection between the recommendations of the Counter-Terrorism Headquarters and the behavior of Israelis abroad. Several years ago, he and his colleague Dr. Aliza Yunes conducted a comprehensive study on the subject.
Among other things, the study revealed a fascinating finding: About 70 percent of Israelis who are exposed to information published by the Counter-Terrorism Headquarters do believe the information presented to them.
However, only 30 percent of them are willing to act on warnings.
We see this well in everything to do with travel to Sinai, but not only.
Simply put: Israelis believe - but still travel.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London following the operation in Gaza, May 2021 (Photo: Reuters, Reuters)
Israelis in disguise
All this raises again the issue of the concealment of the signs of Israeli and Jewish when we travel abroad. True, you can not really know whether you ever Israeli tourist is indeed escaped harm because of disguising his Israeliness, but the matter certainly appears again and again in the recommendations of the National Security Council.
"In As far as visibility is concerned, there are Israeli tourists whose visibility will be visible in any case, such as ultra-Orthodox Jews, their hats, wigs for life and more. These will travel less during tense periods. On the other hand, kippah wearers disguise their Israeliness by wearing a hat, "explains Prof. Yaniv Poria, head of the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the academic director of the Eilat campus.
Poria adds that "other Israelis will use a variety of methods to disguise their identities. Those who shout in Hebrew in the dining room will stop doing so. They will also not wear shirts with Hebrew captions, and the Star of David necklace will fit under the shirt. Many others will speak English to each other. "Moreover, this camouflage is reflected not only in the manner of dress, but also in the places of visit of the Israelis. Especially in such periods, the Israelis will not enter a place with a 'kosher' sign, and will not visit synagogues or Jewish museums."
Will you fly abroad when the war in Gaza ends?
Yes, abroad is safer than here
No, what's the pressure?
There is also a corona
Only to countries that support us
168 participants
Religious people can use the phone on Saturdays abroad
Poria says that on stormy days as we are experiencing now, there is a permit for religious Jews to be on Saturday with the phone open and active.
According to him, it is a matter of mental supervision - whether it is a quick call for help, when needed, or whether it is necessary to use Wise to reach the destination in the shortest, fastest and safest way.
"It is important to understand that the feeling of danger is in the eyes of the observer, and in such periods we feel vulnerable and hostile around us, so as tourists, we will try to avoid such feelings," says Poria.
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on general
Share on general
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
0 comments