Nazareth & Galilee
Not in the story-mood? Scroll down for the Quick Budget Fact Overview: an itemized information summary of Nazareth! ↓
[There is an active war going on between Israel and Palestine. Whereas tourists are not the target group of the attacking parties, safety can’t be guaranteed. Even though the writer of the article also visited during wartime and didn’t experience any life-threatening casualties, it is recommended to verify the current safety situation with locals situated in the areas you intend to visit. This can be done on designated Facebook groups or via the Couchsurfing network. As always, don’t rely on the “information” obtained via mass media or from people who haven’t actually been there themselves. As a weathered traveler, you know the drill.]
[There is an active war going on between Israel and Palestine. Whereas tourists are not the target group of the attacking parties, safety can’t be guaranteed. Even though the writer of the article also visited during wartime and didn’t experience any life-threatening casualties, it is recommended to verify the current safety situation with locals situated in the areas you intend to visit. This can be done on designated Facebook groups or via the Couchsurfing network. As always, don’t rely on the “information” obtained via mass media or from people who haven’t actually been there themselves. As a weathered traveler, you know the drill.]
Palestine/Israel is kind of an unreal destination to travel in… every single city you visit for the very first time of your life, you already know. You’ve heard these names over and over again, since you were young. Be it in history class, by your die-hard religious grandmother, on the news or in some badly-acted theatre play during the yearly Christmas celebrations. Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Galilee, Nazareth… are you kidding me? It just blows my mind that these are real-life-places where you can actually go to. It’s exciting and unsettling at the same time. Does it take away the mystique, or does it add to it now you can physically explore those places and be a part of it?
The same goes for their churches. Normally I answer the sight of a church with an indifferent shrug, the only attraction luring me in being the architecture and art inside. Whole different ball-game in Palestine/Israel though! Where in the rest of the world churches are built around the suspected hair or toenail of whatever obscure saint, here they have the opportunity to construct their sanctuaries around the actual tombs of folks like Maria, Jesus or one of the disciples… or at the presumed spots where according to legend the various praised and sacred biblical events have happened. The spot were the Holy Spirit informed Maria about her unplanned pregnancy, the stable where Baby Jesus was born, the lake where he allegedly walked on water… the opportunities are just endless on the Holy Land.
So, on the bucket list of “wtf-can-you-actually-go-here’s?!”: are you ready to travel with me to Nazareth, the former homebase of the one and only?
The same goes for their churches. Normally I answer the sight of a church with an indifferent shrug, the only attraction luring me in being the architecture and art inside. Whole different ball-game in Palestine/Israel though! Where in the rest of the world churches are built around the suspected hair or toenail of whatever obscure saint, here they have the opportunity to construct their sanctuaries around the actual tombs of folks like Maria, Jesus or one of the disciples… or at the presumed spots where according to legend the various praised and sacred biblical events have happened. The spot were the Holy Spirit informed Maria about her unplanned pregnancy, the stable where Baby Jesus was born, the lake where he allegedly walked on water… the opportunities are just endless on the Holy Land.
So, on the bucket list of “wtf-can-you-actually-go-here’s?!”: are you ready to travel with me to Nazareth, the former homebase of the one and only?
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Nazareth
The journey to Nazareth taught me the complications of what at first glance seems to be an efficient public transportation system. National connections, a country-wide Rav Kav Card to pay for it, clean buses… it all means nothing if they don’t actually drive on the advertised hours. I had limited time in Palestine/Israel and a day went by waiting on buses that never showed up. So when I finally arrived, the feeling of content was all the sweeter learning that I was actually Couchsurfing at the house of the Cana of Galilee family, a wine brand famous in the entire nation (get yourself some holy wine right here!)… Hallelujah! I told you before: Life has got a plan for me. They live in a street named after them, as their family history dates back far before the “State of Israel” was even a thing.
Talking of which, you know who else used to live here? That’s right, our boy Jesus, from the age of 5 to 30. He might be the reason you feel like you’ve heard the name “Nazareth” before. It has to be said, he chose quite a pleasant home for himself! The Old Town is a bustling ensemble of colorful architecture, lively markets and underground tunnels, while it simultaneously manages to breathe a certain peacefulness and serenity that is entirely absent in cities such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Even though my host mentioned that locals don’t seem to appreciate their own city, I most certainly did. I especially enjoyed the area named Mary’s Well, which is a lively square full of frisky cafes and restaurants emitting the most mouth-watering fragrances. A bit of an expensive area, but then again, that can be said of the entire country.
The journey to Nazareth taught me the complications of what at first glance seems to be an efficient public transportation system. National connections, a country-wide Rav Kav Card to pay for it, clean buses… it all means nothing if they don’t actually drive on the advertised hours. I had limited time in Palestine/Israel and a day went by waiting on buses that never showed up. So when I finally arrived, the feeling of content was all the sweeter learning that I was actually Couchsurfing at the house of the Cana of Galilee family, a wine brand famous in the entire nation (get yourself some holy wine right here!)… Hallelujah! I told you before: Life has got a plan for me. They live in a street named after them, as their family history dates back far before the “State of Israel” was even a thing.
Talking of which, you know who else used to live here? That’s right, our boy Jesus, from the age of 5 to 30. He might be the reason you feel like you’ve heard the name “Nazareth” before. It has to be said, he chose quite a pleasant home for himself! The Old Town is a bustling ensemble of colorful architecture, lively markets and underground tunnels, while it simultaneously manages to breathe a certain peacefulness and serenity that is entirely absent in cities such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Even though my host mentioned that locals don’t seem to appreciate their own city, I most certainly did. I especially enjoyed the area named Mary’s Well, which is a lively square full of frisky cafes and restaurants emitting the most mouth-watering fragrances. A bit of an expensive area, but then again, that can be said of the entire country.
If you feel like deepening your understanding of the life of Jesus during his Nazareth times (which are most of his times), the Nazareth Village is there to lend a hand. Fair enough, the Disney’esque presentation, incl. live-action role players, comes across a bit gimmicky, but during the guided tour this entertaining spectacle is deepened with some thorough facts and background information. They specifically caught my interest with the (original) 1st century wine press, accompanied by the story of Jesus’ existence as an AD-wine-producer. Of all the glorification and praise this man* received over the centuries, the idea of him quenching Nazareth’s thirst with which I assume can only be qualified as divine wine, is what fuels my faith. An interesting detail is that even though most items in this open air museum are replica’s, they did build them using the original 1st century techniques. A nice touch!
* Son of God or not: he’s still a man, something this museum pleasantly accentuates.
Obviously, you cannot be at the former hometown of Jesus, Maria and Joseph without having an overwhelming amount of churches dedicated to the cause. A major one in Nazareth is the Basilica of Annunciation, which used to be Joseph's and Maria’s house, and as such is also the very spot where she allegedly heard to be invisibly impregnated by our very lord and saviour (standing on the same spot, I wondered how that made Joseph feel). This location in fact contains two churches, the Christian one and the Orthodox one, as this nation is of course above all the place of an incompatibly high amount of different religions. The Orthodox one is intimate and with an original personality, whereas the Christian one shows big money, having an almost industrial design which is however presented in a very tasteful way. By all means, make sure you don’t skip the in- and outdoor artwork section, consisting of depictions of Mary as seen and created by almost all countries in the Christian world. Other, less-famous churches include the Greek Catholic Church, the Christ Church, the Salesian Church, the Church of St. Joseph (at Joseph’s former workshop), the Church of Our Lady Fright (where Mary watched her son almost being murdered), and the Mensa Christi Church (where you can find the remains of the table where Jesus and his disciples consumed a meal after his resurrection). To mix it up a little, you should of course also visit the Jewish Synagogue, standing on the exact site of the original one, where Jesus used to study, pray and later preach… this is where according to the narratives, he implicitly declared himself the Messiah.
* Son of God or not: he’s still a man, something this museum pleasantly accentuates.
Obviously, you cannot be at the former hometown of Jesus, Maria and Joseph without having an overwhelming amount of churches dedicated to the cause. A major one in Nazareth is the Basilica of Annunciation, which used to be Joseph's and Maria’s house, and as such is also the very spot where she allegedly heard to be invisibly impregnated by our very lord and saviour (standing on the same spot, I wondered how that made Joseph feel). This location in fact contains two churches, the Christian one and the Orthodox one, as this nation is of course above all the place of an incompatibly high amount of different religions. The Orthodox one is intimate and with an original personality, whereas the Christian one shows big money, having an almost industrial design which is however presented in a very tasteful way. By all means, make sure you don’t skip the in- and outdoor artwork section, consisting of depictions of Mary as seen and created by almost all countries in the Christian world. Other, less-famous churches include the Greek Catholic Church, the Christ Church, the Salesian Church, the Church of St. Joseph (at Joseph’s former workshop), the Church of Our Lady Fright (where Mary watched her son almost being murdered), and the Mensa Christi Church (where you can find the remains of the table where Jesus and his disciples consumed a meal after his resurrection). To mix it up a little, you should of course also visit the Jewish Synagogue, standing on the exact site of the original one, where Jesus used to study, pray and later preach… this is where according to the narratives, he implicitly declared himself the Messiah.
If you've got some time on your hands, you could leave town to visit the Cana Greek Wedding Church in Kafr Kanna, located on the spot where according to the New Testament Jesus turned water into wine (you've got my attention).* Or, if you’re more of a foodie, you can visit the Church of Multiplication in Tabgha, the site of yet another celebrated miracle. It is here, where people believe our man multiplied loaves and fish to feed a mob of 5000 people. It is also the spot where he resurrected for the fourth time. Must be tiring.
* If wine is not your drink: the Nazareth Beer Brewery might cater to your needs?
To end a very culture- and religion-loaded day on a more natural note: I can recommend a sunset on Mount Precipice, which offers rewarding lookouts over the Jezreel Valley after a rather laidback hike (it’s only 395m high). As you’re still in Palestine/Israel, obviously religious connotations can never be avoided. You’ll appreciate an undisturbed view on Mount Tabor, which is in Christian tradition the very spot of Jesus’ transfiguration (he basically just started shooting out bright rays of light – party trick 2.0).
* If wine is not your drink: the Nazareth Beer Brewery might cater to your needs?
To end a very culture- and religion-loaded day on a more natural note: I can recommend a sunset on Mount Precipice, which offers rewarding lookouts over the Jezreel Valley after a rather laidback hike (it’s only 395m high). As you’re still in Palestine/Israel, obviously religious connotations can never be avoided. You’ll appreciate an undisturbed view on Mount Tabor, which is in Christian tradition the very spot of Jesus’ transfiguration (he basically just started shooting out bright rays of light – party trick 2.0).
Photo by Miles Watson Photography
Sea of Galilee
Nazareth is a wonderful, and of course historically and culturally relevant destination to visit. However, you won’t need more than 1-2 days to see everything. Twice. That said, it makes for an excellent base of further exploration, as this “corner” is often regarded as the fairest of the land. At least, nature-wise. One of the main spots? The Sea Of Galilee, which isn’t a sea at all, but in fact the lowest freshwater lake on the planet, and the second-lowest lake worldwide (the lowest being the Dead Sea, which is also not a sea). As one of the most historic bodies of water, it also knew alternative names such as Lake Tiberias (Roman) and Kinneret, named after the shape of an ancient Hebrew kinnor or harp, the favorite instrument of King David. It’s in fact only the Gospels that keeps incorrectly referring to it as a sea…
* inserting a purposeful moment of silence to individually let you draw conclusions about the trustworthiness of biblical accounts*
While we’re on the topic, Galilee is the decor of many other very likely events out of JC’s life… such as walking on water, which honestly would be more believable if it were on the saltier-than-salt Dead Sea. It’s also the spot where he recruited Simon, Andrew, John and James as his loyal apostles. The base of operations was Capernaum, a thriving town at the north end of the lake.
Sea of Galilee
Nazareth is a wonderful, and of course historically and culturally relevant destination to visit. However, you won’t need more than 1-2 days to see everything. Twice. That said, it makes for an excellent base of further exploration, as this “corner” is often regarded as the fairest of the land. At least, nature-wise. One of the main spots? The Sea Of Galilee, which isn’t a sea at all, but in fact the lowest freshwater lake on the planet, and the second-lowest lake worldwide (the lowest being the Dead Sea, which is also not a sea). As one of the most historic bodies of water, it also knew alternative names such as Lake Tiberias (Roman) and Kinneret, named after the shape of an ancient Hebrew kinnor or harp, the favorite instrument of King David. It’s in fact only the Gospels that keeps incorrectly referring to it as a sea…
* inserting a purposeful moment of silence to individually let you draw conclusions about the trustworthiness of biblical accounts*
While we’re on the topic, Galilee is the decor of many other very likely events out of JC’s life… such as walking on water, which honestly would be more believable if it were on the saltier-than-salt Dead Sea. It’s also the spot where he recruited Simon, Andrew, John and James as his loyal apostles. The base of operations was Capernaum, a thriving town at the north end of the lake.
In more recent history, Galilee formed the source of the kibbutz movement. A kibbutz is a community founded on a social contract honoring the principles of communism and egalitarianism, with agriculture as an underlying factor. A farmer’s sect, if you will (at least, that’s what it sounds like to me as a complete outsider). In 1908 Jewish pioneers established the Kinneret Farm, which was initiated to train Jewish immigrants on the principles of modern farming. Out if the Kinneret community the Kvutzat Deegania and the Kvutzat Kinneret were formed, considered to be the first kibbutzes to ever be established and as such, forming what is seen as “the cradle of kibbutz culture” in the period of early Zionism.
Another wow-really-you-can-visit-that-place?! → The main source of the “Sea” of Galilee is the one and only Jordan River. That’s right, the one that the Israelites crossed to reach the Promised Land, and the one were Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, who also made quite the name for himself. It just never stops with the biblical highlights here, does it? It’s just one giant Holy Gospel Extravaganza. Needless to say, this sight is overflooding (haHA, see what I did there, haaa… okay sorry) with folks from all over the world, eager to be sprinkled with the exact same water that once sprayed Jesus’ head. Wet ‘n wild destination for those notoriously hot summer days!
Another wow-really-you-can-visit-that-place?! → The main source of the “Sea” of Galilee is the one and only Jordan River. That’s right, the one that the Israelites crossed to reach the Promised Land, and the one were Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, who also made quite the name for himself. It just never stops with the biblical highlights here, does it? It’s just one giant Holy Gospel Extravaganza. Needless to say, this sight is overflooding (haHA, see what I did there, haaa… okay sorry) with folks from all over the world, eager to be sprinkled with the exact same water that once sprayed Jesus’ head. Wet ‘n wild destination for those notoriously hot summer days!
If instead of kneeling, you prefer to honor all those Christian and Jewish treasures on both feet, you can also complete the 64-km Jesus Trail, starting in Nazareth. A catchy name covering a network of trails, roads and bicycle lanes connecting all the hotspots linked to Jesus and his disciples. To be more exact, it covers the following sights: Sepphoris (Zippori National Park), Cana, Ilaniya, the Lavi Kibbutz, Horns of Hatton, Arbel Cliffs & National Park, Migdal, Sea of Galilee, Tabgha, Mount Beatitudes, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor and it ends in Capernaum. Of course, as I’m mainly a passionate herald of the Hiking Gospel, this is the first thing I researched after booking a flight to Palestine. However, my timing was off. Keep in mind that from May until well into October the temperature ranges from mildly uncomfortable to “sweating your guts out”, which is not ideal for a 2-day hiking endeavour (I read that it’s a 4-day-thing… but really, 16km a day? Then you can, indeed, complete it shuffling forward on your knees). Alternatively, you can just climb Jesus’ favorite teaching spot, the Mount of Beautitudes (from: Sermon on the Mount), which forms part of the Korazim National Park. It won’t drain your energy too much, as it’s with 25m above sea level (but 200m above the Sea of Galilee) one of the lowest summits in the world.
→ Golon Heights: While here, another potential adventure could be hidden in the area of Golon Heights. Isn’t that Syria? Yeah it is, but President Trump said it’s Israeli and everything this man says is most definitely based on thorough research and irrefutable truths*… so… Yeahhh, anyway, you can hike there, too. All kind of outdoor adventure things, yihaa! As I unfortunately didn’t have enough flexibility in my tight travel schedule to do this myself, I wont bother you with an extensive report based on nothing, but please don’t mind me bringing it to your kind attention. The area, mainly formed by basalt fields, is scattered with dormant volcanoes, a crater lake (Birkat Ram), several peaks** and waterfalls. Also, not unimportantly, the soil is found incredibly suitable for wine production: After the establishment of the Golan Heights Winery in 1976, the very first one in the area, fortunately many followed.
* Just as some fun-fact-context: When the State of Israel annexed this area, the United Nations Security Council stated in Resolution 242 that “the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect.” Seems to be convenient to forget I guess…
** Most peaks are volcanic cones, such as: Mount Avital (1204m), Mount Dov/Jebel Rous (1529m), Mount Agas (1350m), Mount Ram (1188m), Mount Bental (1171m) and Tal Saki (594m).
Some sights to be seen here include:
* Just as some fun-fact-context: When the State of Israel annexed this area, the United Nations Security Council stated in Resolution 242 that “the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect.” Seems to be convenient to forget I guess…
** Most peaks are volcanic cones, such as: Mount Avital (1204m), Mount Dov/Jebel Rous (1529m), Mount Agas (1350m), Mount Ram (1188m), Mount Bental (1171m) and Tal Saki (594m).
Some sights to be seen here include:
- Banias Ancient Site
- Deir Qeruh (ruined Byzantine and Syrian village)
- Kursi Archaeological Site and National Park
- Katzrin Archeological Site
- Senaim Archeological Site
- Tell Hadar Archeological Site
- Gamla Nature Reserve
- Rujm el-Hiri (local stonehenge)
- Um el Kanatir (ruined Byzantine village)
- Nimrod Fortress
- Mount Hermon and Lake Ram (also a ski resort)
- Hippos (ancient Greco-Roman city)
Quick Budget Fact Overview
Palestine/Israel Facts
Short History Recap (at least, as short as possible for a place like this)
1917: UK seizes Palestine from Ottomans. Balfour Declaration: UK gives support to "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. ’20: San Remo Allied Powers conference grants Palestine to Britain as mandate, to prepare for self-rule. Jewish immigration continues. ’22: UK separates Transjordan from Mandate Palestine, forbids Jewish settlement in Transjordan. ’39: UK White Paper limits Jewish migration to Palestine to 10,000 per year. ‘40s: Nazi Holocaust → Jewish mass migration. Jewish armed groups fight for independent Jewish state. ’47: UN recommends partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. ’48: Israel declares independence as British mandate ends → admitted to UN. ‘48-’49: 1st Arab-Israeli War, Palestinians driven out of their homes. Armistice agreements give Israel more territory than planned under Partition Plan. Jordan annexes West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. Egypt occupies Gaza. Around 750,000 Palestinian Arabs either flee/expelled. ‘56-’57: Suez Crisis → Israel & UK/France plan to invade Egypt to re-open canal to Israeli shipping. UN buffer force set up in Sinai and Gaza, Israeli shipping allowed. ’57: Israel & France begin to build a large nuclear reactor in Negev Desert → basis for unconfirmed nuclear weapons programme. ’62: Concerns about the Middle Eastern balance of power prompts US to sell Israel missiles + France provides arms supplies to Israel in ’66. ’64: National Water Carrier brings water from Jordan River to Negev → tensions with Arabs. ’67: Six Day War → Israel launches attack on Egypt → Jordan and Syria join war. War leaves Israel in control of east Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and Sinai. Jewish settlements are set up in all of these areas. ’72: Black September → Palestinian gunmen take the Israeli team hostage at the Munich Olympics. 2 athletes murdered, 9 killed during failed rescue attempt. ’73: Egypt & Syria launch attack against Israeli forces in occupied Sinai & Golan Heights (Yom Kippur / October War) → Israel prevails. ’74: Gush Emunim movement formed to promote Jewish religious settlements on West Bank. ’76: Land Day → 6 Arabs killed by mass protests against government attempts to expropriate land in the Galilee area of northern Israel. ’81: Israeli Force raid destroys nuclear reactor at Osirak in Iraq. ’82: Israel invades Lebanon to expel Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leadership after assassination attempt by small Palestinian militant group on Israeli ambassador. ’82: Massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut. ’85: Introducing Israeli Shekel to beat hyperinflation. ’85: Israel withdraws from most of Lebanon but continues to occupy narrow "security zone" along border. ’87: First Intifada uprising begins in Occupied Territories. Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza forms Hamas movement → violence against Israel. ’90: Soviet Union allows Jews to emigrate, leading to about a million ex-Soviet citizens moving to Israel. ’91: Gulf War → Iraq fires 39 missiles at Israel in failed attempt to regionalise conflict. Israel refrains from responding at US request. ’93: Oslo Declaration for Palestinian self-government. ’94: Israel withdraws from most of Gaza and Jericho. ’94: Jordan & Israel sign peace treaty. Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres jointly awarded Nobel Peace Prize. ’95: Jewish extremist shoots Yitzhak Rabin dead in Tel Aviv. 2000: Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon. ’02: Israeli army launches Operation Defensive Shield on West Bank after Palestinian suicide bombings. Israel begins building barrier in and around West Bank = interpreted as defence by Israelis, but as a way to grab more land by Palestinians. US, EU, Russia & UN propose road map to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict, proposing independent Palestinian state. Israel & Palestinian National Authority both accept plan, which requires freeze on West Bank Jewish settlements and an end to attacks on Israelis. ’04: International Court of Justice issues advisory opinion that West Bank barrier is illegal. ’05: Israel withdraws all Jewish settlers and military personnel from Gaza, while retaining control over airspace, coastal waters & border crossings. Hamas wins Palestinian parliamentary elections → rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza escalate + frequent Israeli raids. ’06: Second Lebanon War. ’08: Israel Gaza invasion. ’09: Discovery of major offshore natural gas deposits. ’11: Hamas release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 prisoners. ’14: Military campaign Gaza. ’15: Wave of shootings, stabbings and car-rammings by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs. ’16: US military aid package. ’17: Parliament passes a law which retroactively legalises dozens of Jewish settlements built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank. UNESCO votes to declare the Old City of Hebron a Palestinian World Heritage site. ’17: US President Trump recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, upsetting the Arab world and some Western allies. Then he recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed. The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty. ’18: UN and Egypt attempt to broker a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. ’19: US no longer considers Israeli settlements on the West Bank to be illegal. ’20: United Arab Emirates 1st Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. ’21: Forced evictions of Palestinians in east Jerusalem. ’23: War fires up again, Israel initiates genocide of Palestinians.
Palestine/Israel Facts
- Capital: Jerusalem (Ramallah is Palestine’s de facto capital during the occupation)
- Language: Hebrew / Arabic
- Population: ± 9.3 mln Israel / 3 mln West Bank / 590,500 Gaza (Nazareth: 77,445) – the population numbers especially in the Palestinian areas are very flexible, due to the ongoing genocide)
- Sq km: ± 22,145 Israel / 5,860 West Bank / 365 Gaza (Nazareth: ± 16.5)
- Currency: Shekel (₪ - NIS)
- Electricity Outlet: C + H / 230 V / 50 Hz. Check here.
- Country Code Phone: +972
- Emergency Phone: 112 (general), 100 (police), 101 (ambulance), 102 (fire)
- Visa: Find more info about visas for Israel on this page. Unless you’re Israeli, you can enter the West Bank without any issues. More info for an easy visa application here.
- Vaccinations: None
- Climate: Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate (Csa)
- High season: June – September (also really hot)
Short History Recap (at least, as short as possible for a place like this)
1917: UK seizes Palestine from Ottomans. Balfour Declaration: UK gives support to "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. ’20: San Remo Allied Powers conference grants Palestine to Britain as mandate, to prepare for self-rule. Jewish immigration continues. ’22: UK separates Transjordan from Mandate Palestine, forbids Jewish settlement in Transjordan. ’39: UK White Paper limits Jewish migration to Palestine to 10,000 per year. ‘40s: Nazi Holocaust → Jewish mass migration. Jewish armed groups fight for independent Jewish state. ’47: UN recommends partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. ’48: Israel declares independence as British mandate ends → admitted to UN. ‘48-’49: 1st Arab-Israeli War, Palestinians driven out of their homes. Armistice agreements give Israel more territory than planned under Partition Plan. Jordan annexes West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. Egypt occupies Gaza. Around 750,000 Palestinian Arabs either flee/expelled. ‘56-’57: Suez Crisis → Israel & UK/France plan to invade Egypt to re-open canal to Israeli shipping. UN buffer force set up in Sinai and Gaza, Israeli shipping allowed. ’57: Israel & France begin to build a large nuclear reactor in Negev Desert → basis for unconfirmed nuclear weapons programme. ’62: Concerns about the Middle Eastern balance of power prompts US to sell Israel missiles + France provides arms supplies to Israel in ’66. ’64: National Water Carrier brings water from Jordan River to Negev → tensions with Arabs. ’67: Six Day War → Israel launches attack on Egypt → Jordan and Syria join war. War leaves Israel in control of east Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and Sinai. Jewish settlements are set up in all of these areas. ’72: Black September → Palestinian gunmen take the Israeli team hostage at the Munich Olympics. 2 athletes murdered, 9 killed during failed rescue attempt. ’73: Egypt & Syria launch attack against Israeli forces in occupied Sinai & Golan Heights (Yom Kippur / October War) → Israel prevails. ’74: Gush Emunim movement formed to promote Jewish religious settlements on West Bank. ’76: Land Day → 6 Arabs killed by mass protests against government attempts to expropriate land in the Galilee area of northern Israel. ’81: Israeli Force raid destroys nuclear reactor at Osirak in Iraq. ’82: Israel invades Lebanon to expel Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leadership after assassination attempt by small Palestinian militant group on Israeli ambassador. ’82: Massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut. ’85: Introducing Israeli Shekel to beat hyperinflation. ’85: Israel withdraws from most of Lebanon but continues to occupy narrow "security zone" along border. ’87: First Intifada uprising begins in Occupied Territories. Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza forms Hamas movement → violence against Israel. ’90: Soviet Union allows Jews to emigrate, leading to about a million ex-Soviet citizens moving to Israel. ’91: Gulf War → Iraq fires 39 missiles at Israel in failed attempt to regionalise conflict. Israel refrains from responding at US request. ’93: Oslo Declaration for Palestinian self-government. ’94: Israel withdraws from most of Gaza and Jericho. ’94: Jordan & Israel sign peace treaty. Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres jointly awarded Nobel Peace Prize. ’95: Jewish extremist shoots Yitzhak Rabin dead in Tel Aviv. 2000: Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon. ’02: Israeli army launches Operation Defensive Shield on West Bank after Palestinian suicide bombings. Israel begins building barrier in and around West Bank = interpreted as defence by Israelis, but as a way to grab more land by Palestinians. US, EU, Russia & UN propose road map to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict, proposing independent Palestinian state. Israel & Palestinian National Authority both accept plan, which requires freeze on West Bank Jewish settlements and an end to attacks on Israelis. ’04: International Court of Justice issues advisory opinion that West Bank barrier is illegal. ’05: Israel withdraws all Jewish settlers and military personnel from Gaza, while retaining control over airspace, coastal waters & border crossings. Hamas wins Palestinian parliamentary elections → rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza escalate + frequent Israeli raids. ’06: Second Lebanon War. ’08: Israel Gaza invasion. ’09: Discovery of major offshore natural gas deposits. ’11: Hamas release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 prisoners. ’14: Military campaign Gaza. ’15: Wave of shootings, stabbings and car-rammings by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs. ’16: US military aid package. ’17: Parliament passes a law which retroactively legalises dozens of Jewish settlements built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank. UNESCO votes to declare the Old City of Hebron a Palestinian World Heritage site. ’17: US President Trump recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, upsetting the Arab world and some Western allies. Then he recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed. The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty. ’18: UN and Egypt attempt to broker a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. ’19: US no longer considers Israeli settlements on the West Bank to be illegal. ’20: United Arab Emirates 1st Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. ’21: Forced evictions of Palestinians in east Jerusalem. ’23: War fires up again, Israel initiates genocide of Palestinians.
Photo by Miles Watson Photography
FREE Sights / Activities
PAID Sights / Activities
Evening Entertainment Tel Aviv
Local Festivals
FREE Sights / Activities
- Sights: Old Town, Mary’s Well, Basilica of Annunciation, Greek Catholic Church, Christ Church, Salesian Church, Church of St. Joseph, Church of Our Lady Fright, Mensa Christi Church, Jewish Synagogue.
- Hikes / Nature: Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Jesus Trail (65km), Mount Precipice, Jezreel Valley, Mount Tabor, Mount of Beautitudes / Korazim National Park, Golan Heights.
- In the area: Cana Greek Wedding Church (Kafr Kanna), Church of Multiplication (Tabgha), Capernaum.
PAID Sights / Activities
- Museums: Nazareth Village.
- Other: Tal Megiddo National Park, Tzipori National Park, Nazareth Beer Brewery, Holy Caves.
Evening Entertainment Tel Aviv
- Nightlife Areas: Mary’s Well.
- Theatres: Yokneam.
Local Festivals
- Kinneret Crossing (swimming) - Sep.
- Near Nazareth Festival (film) – Dec.
Budget Bites
Sleep Cheap
- Supermarkets: City, Hyper Abukhadra, King Store & many local shops.
- Markets: Old Market.
- Local Dishes: Falafel, Hummus, Ful (bean hummus), Shoarma, Shakshouka (eggs with tomato sauce dish), Kreplach (dumplings), Orez Shu’it (bean dish), Bourekas (stuffed pastry), Jachnun (pastry), Merguez (spicy sausage), Denesse (fish with yoghurt), Kugel (casserole), Sabich (stuffed pita sandwich), Matzah Brei (egg dish), Cholent (stew), Skewered Goose Liver, Kubba Seleq (beet stew), Freekeh (smoky green wheat), Ziva (type of burek), Matfoul (giant couscous), Musakhan (roasted chicken on flatbread), Maraq Adashim (lentil soup), Maraq Shuit (white bean soup), Malabi (dessert), Labneh (salty yoghurt), Challah (braided egg bread), Taboon (flatbread), Matzo (crunchy flatbread), Rugelach (pastry), Za’atar & Sumac (spice blend).
- The Veg Situation: Going veg is not so complicated in Palestine/Israel, as lots of Jewish food is already vegetarian. A veg restaurant guide can be found here. Local vegetarian dishes: Falafel, Hummus, Ful, Shakshouka, Orez Shu’it, Kubba Seleq, Freekeh, Ziva, Matfoul, Maraq Adashim, Maraq Shuit, Labneh, Challah, Taboon, Matzo, Rugelach, Za’atar, Sumac, Brik (deep-fried pastry), Burgul (wheat), Jakhnun (tomato pastry), Kishka (stuffed derma), Ktzitzot Khubeza (patty made of bulgur/bread crumbs, eggs and onion), Kubba Bamia (semolina or okra dumplings), Macaroni Hamin, Malawach (tomato bread), Ptitim (toasted pasta).
- National Drink: Arak (anise spirit), Goldstar Beer, Kosher Wine, Sachlav (hot milk with coconut), Limonana (icy mint lemonade).
Sleep Cheap
- Hostels / Hotels: Palestine/Israel is definitely not cheap, which also goes for the accommodations. The West Bank area is slightly cheaper, but still, definitely not a budget option. To keep inside a limited budget, you’ll have to focus on hostels… and even those can be pricy. Without being paid to say so, I love Booking.com: They have the biggest selection, are transparent about the final price and have an efficient search engine tailored to your specific needs (cheapest first!). If you use it often enough, Genius-discounts are applied. Agoda is often not transparent about prices, adding a lot of additional costs in the last booking-step. Opodo is another decent option. Air BnB is not what it used to be, price-wise, and seem to focus on the more upscale boutique stays nowadays.
- Couchsurfing: allows you to stay with locals. Nowadays it has a moderate sign-up cost (unless you put a third-world country as homebase), but paying extra for verification is unnecessary: Positive reviews are way more important. Once active, there are no costs for staying at someone’s house. In order to get accepted, make sure to write an elaborate review explaining why you applied to this specific profile and think you and your host are a good match (copy-pastes tend to be ignored). The Couchsurfing community in Israel/Palestine is rather big and finding a host shouldn’t be too complicated. Writer’s pick: I Couchsurfed in Nazareth.
- Housesitting: is an amazing exchange allowing you to stay short- or long-term in somebody’s house, while looking after their house and pets. There are many different websites, most of them paid… but once you landed a sit, the subscription fee pays itself back quickly. The main housesitting site is Trusted Housesitters.
- Wild Camping: is legal in Palestine/Israel, with the exception of private farmland. Take into account that the heat can be overwhelming, even in spring or autumn.
Photo by Miles Watson Photography
Mama Said
Transport
Next?
Mama Said
- Safety: To claim that Palestine/Israel is a safe place would be a lie, considering there’s an unsolvable war going on. However, the ongoing violence and attacks happen between the Israelis and Palestinians and are by no means specifically pointed at tourists. In fact, you’ll notice that both the Israelis and especially Palestinians tend to treat foreign visitors with great respect. However, it is recommended to practice vigilance. Try to avoid uproars or protests.
- Shabbat: The Israeli part of the country just shuts down during Shabbat, which happens from 3PM on a Friday to around 9PM on a Saturday night. Shops will be closed and there is absolutely no public transport, not even to the airports. I learned this the hard way (I could only catch my flight by hitchhiking to the airport with a Palestinian car). In the West Bank area, there is no such inconvenience.
- Tap Water: is safe to drink, except at the Dead Sea.
- The best credit/debit card for traveling is Wise, as they use the live conversion rates with minimal exchange fees. Wise also has the lowest fees for sending money to foreign accounts. Revolut is comparable, but they have higher exchange fees in the weekend and less wallet-options. Also, you can only wire money to Revolut in the currency you opened the account with, whereas Wise has IBAN’s from a wide variety of currencies, so you don’t have to pay a double exchange fee.
- Simcard: Buying a local simcard is by all means cheaper than using your international roaming option. The main providers are Golan, Partner, Pelephone, 019, Hot Mobile, 012 Mobile and Rami Levy. Golan and 012 Mobile have the cheapest deals. Some sims only cover Israel, some cover the entire Middle East. Depending on your further travel plans, you can choose your prepaid simcard accordingly. It is recommended to buy the simcard at phone shops in the main cities, as airports by default have rip-off “tourist plans.” A passport is needed for sim registration. An Israeli simcard will also work in the West Bank.
Transport
- Walking: It is convenient to explore the downtown areas of Nazareth on foot. The city is only 16.5 square kilometers.
- City Buses / Tram / Metro: Nazareth offers buses to get around. From 9AM until noon the traffic tends to be very heavy and it will take ages to get around. Payment throughout entire Israel is possible with the Rav Kav Card, which can be bought and charged at the airport, train stations, light rail stations, kiosks and even at designated ATMs. You can also add money to your balance via the Rav Kav app. Children under 5 ride free of charge. Every ride is valid for 90 minutes, including transfers. The fare depends on distance, area and transportation type. The unofficial minibus services cannot be paid with the Rav Kav Card. Both Google Maps and Moovit work here, but the latter is more accurate. Important: All public transport stops at 3PM on a Friday and resumes Saturday night, due to Shabbat. There will be nothing available in the Israeli areas, also not to the airport. In the West Bank and Palestinian areas, this isn’t relevant.
- Taxi / Uber: Israel’s main taxi app is Gett. In the Palestinian area you can use Mashaweer, or simply hail down a cab on the street.
- Intercity Buses: The main bus terminal of Nazareth is located on Paulus ha-Shishi Street. The 3 main bus companies include Dan, Egged and Metropolin. Intercity buses can also be paid with the Rav Kav Card. Keep in mind that bus transport is far from reliable in Israel. You can easily take a bus into the West Bank area, there is generally no border or checkpoint (but always carry your ID with you just in case).
- Train: There is currently no train station in Nazareth… however, a connection with Haifa is planned in the near future. The train is a very efficient way to get around, and by all means preferred above buses. You can pay with the Rav Kav Card or buy a paper ticket.
- Car Rental: This is not a cheap endeavour in Israel. However, the best deals can generally be found when the car is picked up from the airport. Keep in mind that Israeli cars are not allowed into certain Palestinian areas.
- Airport: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), Haifa Airport (HFA).
- Hitchhiking: is relatively safe and common in both the Israeli and Palestinian part. I hitchhiked all the time as a pair and it was as easy as hailing down a taxi.
Next?
- National Destinations Close By: Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Be’er Sheva, Ramallah, Jericho, Hebron.
- International Destinations Close By: Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia.
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