Current Update 2/6/2006
Concerning Safety for Pilgrims in Israel
About safety — there is no issue since the election of Hamas in Gaza. Even though the new media makes it look like the world is coming to an end, it is not true.
I already knew there were no new safety issues, but to assure everyone else I spoke with friends in Israel and they said it is safer now than it was before. Israel is very alert and Hamas is on their best behavior. They want to impress the world community now that they have been elected to power. ALSO, Mr. Abbas the Prime Minister who has been in charge since Yasser Arafat died, is still Prime Minister and in charge. Nothing changes in the real world of Israel.
Our pilgrims will be perfectly safe. We never go any where near Gaza which is where the news items have originated. It would be like being afraid to go to Mackinaw City because there were periodic riots in Detroit, or, afraid to visit Las Vegas because there is an uprising on a local Indian reservation. I assure everyone that we are perfectly safe and they can trust us and our team in Israel. Don't let CNN scare you away. Pilgrims who joined us in the past can confirm that it is perfectly safe, especially in the places we visit.
By the way, do you know that many people in the rest of the world are terrified to come to America because of all the murders, terrorist attacks (Oklahoma City, Twin Towers, etc.). It is most often a perception issue fueled by sensationalist media outlets.
For more info on safety in the Holy Land, click here. For the Footprints of God Pilgrimage website, click here.