Lonely Planet Israel & the Palestinian Territories

I found this book quite informative and helpful for the traveler who enjoys the outdoors, culture, lodging and restaurants. I was somewhat disappointed on it's double standard on favoring the Arabs over the Jews. For example there is a translation dictionary that provides all the major numbers and saying in Arabic , but excludes the same information from Hebrew (how can it include 10, 20 30, through 100 in Arabic yet leave out half of these numbers in Hebrew). Also it calls much of the land in Israel territories while I have not heard them claim the same definition for occupied places such as Tibet. If the writers of this book knew more about the history, they would know that Jews lived in significant numbers in most of the major cities of the West Bank and the Golan Heights until the Arab massacres, starting from the 1840's.

I've been in Israel for over a year and refer to this guide before I go anywhere, and I've been quite satisfied with the book's recommendations. It is surprising that there's no mention whatsoever of Herzliya -- which makes me wonder what else hasn't been covered -- but overall I think this book does the job.

It looks easy to me to go around this country, even under Israel's attack with missile.

I have read and enjoyed a wide variety of Lonely Planet guides during my travels. But by far ISRAEL & THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES is my favorite. I picked it up before a planned trip to Israel and couldn't put it down. When I finished it, I couldn't wait to get the plane to check out this legendary country for myself. And then the trip was cancelled. I was devastated. Though I cannot address the accuracy of restaurant, hotel and shopping recommendations here, I can say this book offers a fantastic selection of information about the history of the area, its peoples and peculiar challenges. Reading how other reviewers have detected an anti-Israeli bias from authors Paul Hellander, Andrew Humphreys and Neil Tilbury surprised me. I noticed none of this when I first read this book, but opening it again I see it on every page from an inset box about Israeli rudeness to another that goes on and on about the challenges for Orthodox Jewish gays. I see no mention here about the "challenges" gays face in Islam. Perhaps I was too captivated by the authors' accounts of things like "Jerusalum Syndrome" to notice the authors' political bent. And that's fine. I do not begrudge the authors their opinions. In fact, though I am far from anti-Israel, generally speaking I prefer a point-of-view to bland, allegedly "objective" information. -- Regina McMenamin

A visit to Israel probably ranks high on the list for every traveller in the world given it's vast history, it's religious connotation and it's current political situation. There are many beautiful coffee-table books about the country that wet the appetite for a trip. For the actual planning and for going around in the country, particular when you travel on your own, there is only one alternative and that is the LP guide.It gives you very comprehensive information on what to expect, how to behave, what health precautions to take ( it is a western country in culture but not in nature!), how to get around( e.g. the passport shuffle to avoid stamps. A stamp in your passport prohibits you from visiting other Middle Eastern countries) etc.The information on all the places to visit is very elaborate with good attention not only to the practical details but also to the historical and cultural value of the sites, like e.g. the info on the Via Dolorosa and the 14 stations Jesus stopped on his way to the Crucifiction. You are much better off walking yourself with the LP guide in hand, able to contemplate this deeply moving place than in the hands of one of the local guides/peddlers who do everything to distract you from your own thoughts to get you into one of the souvenir shops ( Mind you, it is in the Arab Quarter, so do not expect too much understanding for what you might feel). The guide prepares you for trips into the Palestinian Territories. It does makes sense to read the newspapers to see whether there are any major problems, but generally the Guide is right in saying that there is little danger involved and that the Palestinians are more than friendly towards visitors.The information on hotels is adequate; I did not involve a travel agency in planning my trip but used the telephone/fax adresses from the guide and have not been dissapointed.Particularly helpful to me was the inclusion of a little section on the Egyptian side of the Sinai. I wanted to do some diving in Eilat, but decided after reading the guide and it's instructions to go to Sharm El Sheikh at the southern part of the Sinai which is with its Ras Mohammed National Marine Park probably one of the best dive spots in the world. Thanks to the guide, the organisation was a simple website visit in a Jerusalem hotel and accomodation was arranged.Finally, I recommend the guide for the very sensitive way it handles the many religious issues in Israel. It certainly helps to makes you understand and contemplate the whole situation a little more.