The group has visited cities and sights including Tel Aviv, Joppa, Casarea, and Tiberias, right on the Sea of Galilee. Restaurants are open. Stores are selling their wares, and families are walking up and down the streets.
Taimur Mansour works for Israel's Ministry of Tourism. He told AFN that many things in the news make it appear as though this is a dangerous time to be in Israel, but Mansour said that's not true.
"It is safe. People are outside. … They go out, they buy, they go to movies,” he said.
A cause for concern in Israel involves the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas. More recently there were the air strikes against Israel during the Iran-Israel conflict in June.
Mansour said that Israel and its security forces prioritize keeping everyone safe. And not just Israelis, but tourists as well.
Visiting Israel now can be a strong show of support for the nation.
"Coming to Israel now has even more meaning because it shows that you love Israel, but it also shows that you support the resilience of Israel, you want to see how Israeli people overcome and keep growing and build up even when there are deaths,” Mansour said.
Walking the land of Jesus is spiritually fulfilling, but for visitors, more to give and to receive.
“I always tell people, 'come to experience the Bible, but also come now because Israel always welcomes its friends, especially those who come to share and see how people live here.'"
