As the situation in and around Israel has been escalating further over the course of the last few days, Luxembourger Myriam Schmit believes that safety in the region can no longer be guaranteed. Together with a group of 15 Luxembourgers and one person from Belgium, Schmit was supposed to make a trip across the region, starting out in Jordan.
However, when they arrived at the Israeli border on Friday, it quickly became apparent that their planned visit of historical sites would not take place as planned: “When we arrived at the Israeli border, we had to wait for nearly two hours, and we were the last bus to be allowed in. There were 25 more buses behind us, but they didn’t gain entry, as we later learned. A border officer then cautioned us to ‘be careful,’ leaving me wondering why... and then he mentioned something about terrorism. However, we didn’t fully comprehend the situation.”
After arriving at their hotel, the group was promptly questioned about recent news, given the limited use of mobile phones during the Sabbath. It was then that the Luxembourgers first learned about the attacks, leading Schmit to wonder why they were allowed into the country.
On Monday morning, the group returned to Amman in Jordan. Since the Allenby Pass through central Israel had already been closed, they were forced to travel via the Sheik Hussein route: “That one is safer and allowed us to leave the country in a secure manner; it’s a two-hour drive. The situation in Israel evolved at all times, meaning what was safe one day doesn’t have to be so the next morning. We also learned of detonations in Jerusalem that morning. Up until yesterday, we still felt relatively safe in Jerusalem since the city also has many Muslim sites, which is why people always say that it is where the fewest attacks happen.”
Travelling to and flying back home from Tel Aviv was not an option for the group, as airports are notoriously known for attacks. The group had already contacted the Foreign Ministry while still in Jerusalem, and they were advised to stay in their hotel: “As I mentioned, we also felt very safe at the hotel in Jerusalem. However, last night, we heard detonations and planes flying above the city.”
The Israeli travel agency in charge of the group helped them with their transportation issues, including visas and busses. According to Schmit, people travelling by themselves had greater trouble getting back out of the country.
The experience of Myriam Schmit and her group underscores the escalating tension and unpredictability of the situation in Israel. As the conflict intensifies, the safety of international travelers and citizens alike becomes increasingly compromised.
