Israel Holiday

Israel has a rich and turbulent past and provides a fascinating destination for the more adventurous traveller, with a wealth of sights and experiences on offer.

Situated in the Middle East, Israel is part of the Holy Land and forms the centre of three of the world's most widely practised religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam).

Settled by Abraham and a group of nomads from Mesopotamia in 1800BC, the Israelites formed a kingdom led by Saul and David, who made Jerusalem the capital.

Taken by the Romans in 63 BC, Israel revolted and the country was razed. The Holy Land became famous when Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 331AD, but fell to Caliph Omar in 638AD and Jerusalem became the Holy City of Islam.

The Crusaders took control of the city by 1099, but were defeated a century later by the Muslims. Israel was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries and in 1878 the British helped found the first Jewish colony. Britain promised both the Arabs and the Jews that it would support the creation of independent homelands after the war, but tensions between the two main ethnic groups continued.

The area of Palestine was separated into Arab and Jewish states by the United Nations following British withdrawal from the area after World War II. However, the partitioning was rejected by Muslim Palestinians, who invaded the nation and were finally defeated by Israeli troops.

Israel is now a parliamentary democracy, while an independent Palestinian state has been established and peace negotiations between the two countries continue. Modern Israel is viewed by many as a proud defender of its boundaries, but it also has surprisingly liberal rules governing the environment, freedom of speech and women's rights.

Christians, Jews and Muslims will all take the opportunity to make their various religious pilgrimages whilst in Israel, but even for the committed agnostic, the country offers fascinating religious and historical sites to visit, as well as some relaxing beach resorts.

Covering an area of more than 20,000 sq km, Israel has a total population of around seven million people. The two official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, but English is a widely spoken second language, making the country relatively easy to travel around, and Israelis tend to be friendly, welcoming and direct.

No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the historic and ancient capital Jerusalem. The city is home to the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, the Citadel andTower of David, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Head for the souk, the walled Old City, the Bible Lands Museum, the concert halls and the many excellent restaurants.

Tel Aviv, one of the largest cities in Israel, is a modern metropolis that has sprung up in the last century and is home to the ancient port of Jaffa, while the main port of Haifa offers the beautiful main temple and gardens of the Bahai religion and the invigorating Dead Sea is a unique experience.

Other places of interest include the vast Belvoir Castle, built by the Crusaders, the nearby Sea of Galilee, a huge inshore lake, the remains of Canaanite, Egyptian and Romano-Byzantine cities at Beth Shean, the archaeological site Tzippori (or Sepphoris) and the Banias Nature Reserve, which is particularly beautiful.

Israel has a long Mediterranean coast and a Red Sea shore, offering some lovely destinations for beach holidays and charming seaside resorts.

Shoppers will enjoy the lively markets and Israel also does a brisk trade in antiquities, which can be purchased from licensed dealers. Food tends to be cheap, with cafes on almost every corner and local specialities include falafel, shwarma and houmos.

Accommodation in Israel varies from basic hostels and camping for the scores of backpackers who visit, to luxury five star hotels. Israel has some excellent bars and nightclubs and a strong arts traditions, with theatre and concert halls in most major cities.

Israel is hot in summers and very cold in winter, with spring and autumn the most pleasant times of year for sightseeing. The country is served by the Ben-Gurion International Airport, situated between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and has an extensive bus network.