Is Israel Really a Dangerous Place to Visit?

I would venture that most people, when considering a visit to Israel, would associate a level of risk with their trip. If you disagree, I challenge you to find a friend or co-worker and ask them if they think it would be dangerous to travel to Israel. 

After all, the Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, regularly fires rockets into Israel, even sometimes leading into full-scale conflict. There are multiple terrorist organizations operating in the Holy Land, and Israel is surrounded by various Arab nations, many of which are hostile. 

Just in the last two weeks, there have been several terrorist attacks in Israel. It’s hard to argue with the idea that Israel is a potentially dangerous place and the idea that one should take careful consideration when planning a trip here. 

With that in mind, you may be shocked to discover that a recent survey found Israel to be the 5th safest country to visit out of the top 50 countries most visited by tourists. 

Israel Ranks 5th in Survey of Safest Countries for Tourists to Visit

According to the Jerusalem Post, a recent survey conducted by a website called The Swiftest, when conducting a study on the least and most safe countries to visit, found that Israel placed 5th safest in a list of the top 50 countries that tourists visit. For context, the United States placed 30, Canada 21, and the United Kingdom 10. 

Shocked? You may be even more puzzled to discover that Israel also consistently ranks in the top 10 happiest countries in the world. 

The study was based on data pulled from multiple sources, such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, Our World in Data and the WorldRiskReport.com. From this data, they put together a safety index, based on the following criteria: 

• number of homicide deaths
• road traffic deaths
• unintentional poisoning deaths
• death from poor hygiene conditions
• life years lost due to communicable disease
• life years lost due to injury and a country’s likelihood to be hit by a natural disaster

Overall, Israel received an “A” based on this criteria, with only three other countries beating them out with an “A+”.

Why Is There a Perception That Israel is Dangerous? 

Yes, there have been several terrorist attacks in Israel over the last several weeks. Yes; Gaza fires rockets at Israel from time to time. Yes; there is unrest and violence between the Palestinian Arab population and Jewish Israelis. All of this, however, happens far less than the mainstream media would have you believe. 

Think about the nearest large town to where you live. If you research how many road rage incidents, shootings, or violent crime incidents happen in your city in a month or a year, you may be surprised. 

The reality is that every single incident that happens in Israel is broadcasted in the international media, many times it is inaccurate or misleading, and it is nearly always portrayed to be worse than it actually is. 

So next time you’re making travel plans, and are looking for a safe country to visit, remember Israel. Not only is it a safe place to come to, but it is life-changing. If you’re a Bible-believer, as you’ll find your faith confirmed, challenged, and encouraged by your time in the Holy Land.