Norwegian Cruise Line has removed Israel from its itineraries through 2024 due to the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
16.10.2023 - 07:31 / forbes.com / El Al
I should be in Jerusalem tonight. I say that not because I’m a particularly religious man, but because I literally was scheduled to sleep in the City of David tonight.
Our two-week visit was to highlight the contrast between ancient and modern Israel, from historic sites and synagogues to modern cuisine and technology. We were to spend a week in Jerusalem, three days in Northern Israel, and the final four days in Tel Aviv and beach towns like Caesarea.
The visit was supposed to kick off with an El Al flight from LAX to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) on Monday, October 9, departing at 11AM PST. We were set to fly in one of El Al’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Our bags were packed, prescriptions to sleep through the 14-hour flight prescribed, overseas cell phone plan set up, WhatsApp installed.
If only my greatest worry had continued to be whether I’d have enough legroom in Economy, or if I should have upgraded.
We had dinner with friends celebrating my wife’s birthday on Friday, October 6. But when the birthday cake came out, our Israeli friend’s phone started buzzing. She told us later she didn’t want to tell us how bad it was and spoil the party.
The murderous Hamas attack on the Israeli kibbutzim, trance concert and military bases near the Gaza border had begun. We prayed for our friends and acquaintances, and hoped the death and destruction would be limited.
On Saturday it became clear that we could not go, not because of fear, but of fear of getting in the way, of being another mouth to feed, a pair of clueless tourists to be led around and protected. Our tickets were cancelled within 24 hours of the murderous attack. No doubt Israel Defense Force reservists sat in our seats, coming home to Israel for the fight against Hamas.
When our Jerusalem hosts told us the trip was off, it was the only possible decision. But it felt like a great loss not getting to see the people of Israel, Christians, Jews, Arabs and others.
How many of the people I would have met are now dead, injured or kidnapped? Israel is a small country, and everyone knows someone who was killed. Even in America, when a rabbi at my synagogue asked how many of the congregation had a freed or relative affected, more than half of the 500 people stood up.
As anyone who’s watched the news this week knows, the situation has only gotten worse. The death toll in Israel is over 1300, with the status of over 150 kidnapped individuals unknown. More than 40 Americans are among the dead or missing, as are nationals of more than 30 countries.
An attack on Gaza to rescue the hostages and destroy Hamas leaders seems inevitable, with more Gazans and Israelis to die. The last time so many Jews were killed in one day was during the Holocaust.
This time of
Norwegian Cruise Line has removed Israel from its itineraries through 2024 due to the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
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Editor note: This article is regularly updated as new information becomes available and is accurate as of 10:30 a.m. EDT on Oct. 19. For the most up-to-date information, contact the U.S. Department of State or similar official websites.
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Royal Caribbean International is assisting the U.S. Embassy in Israel by helping to evacuate Americans in the wake of the ongoing war between the Middle Eastern country and Hamas.On Monday, Rhapsody of the Seas set sail from Haifa in northern Israel to Cyprus carrying U.S. citizens fleeing the country amid the turmoil."Royal Caribbean Group is actively supporting the U.S. Department of State in the assisted departure of American citizens," the cruise line said in a statement.The ship was operating on a first-come, first-served basis after canceling several itineraries last week due to the geopolitical situation."With your safety and well-being in mind, and in conjunction with our Global Security Department, we’ve decided that we must cancel our October 9, 2023, and October 13, 2023 Rhapsody of the Seas sailings," Royal Caribbean confirmed earlier this month.
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