“Why would you travel to Israel now when there’s a war going on?” my nurse asked. Like many others she’d been watching television, rarely a portrayal of the whole truth. Since returning home from a tour with a group of journalists I’ve concluded that North Americans have as many misconceptions about Israel as they have about blood cholesterol.
Arrival at an international airport quickly reveals much about a country. My first impression at Ben Gurion airport was that Tel Aviv is a sophisticated, vibrant city that knows where it’s going. And the drive over rolling hills towards Jerusalem confirms the impression of dramatic growth since Israel became a country in 1948.