Tourists find peace in Israel amid war

When the long-expected American and Israeli strikes on Iran began, forcing Israelis to bomb shelters and airlines to cancel flights on Saturday, most tourists caught in Israel scrambled to find a way home.

But for Pastor Ed Hoard and his group of 17 visitors from Georgia, leaving wasn’t an option – at least for now.

“We’re doing fine,” said Hoard, pastor of Jackson Presbyterian Church. “This is my 15th time bringing groups to Israel, and though it’s smaller this time, we feel we’re exactly where the Lord wants us to be.”

The group had landed on Feb. 25. By Saturday, they were at the Dead Sea when the attacks on Iran began and Israeli airspace was closed.

But rather than panic, the Georgians prayed – and decided to stay.

“It’s amazing, the sense of safety and security we feel,” Hoard told ALL ISRAEL NEWS during a phone interview from the Old City of Jerusalem. “The Lord has given us peace of mind. Everyone’s attitude is great. These are mature believers who trust that we’re here for a reason.”

Their tour guide, Shiri Ben Dov, has been adjusting the itinerary in real time. 

“I told them, we can’t do Masada or Ein Gedi, but at least I’ll show you Jerusalem from Mount Scopus. I also took them to Mahane Yehuda market, the central bus station – places where there are always houses around in case we need a bomb shelter,” Ben Dov said. “So they are experiencing Israel the way I live and all Israelis live it, and they are very happy.”

Their decision to stay was a small ray of hope for Israel’s struggling tourism sector, which had just begun making a comeback after more than two years of war. Israel was on track for a record year in 2020 but arrivals plunged after COVID shut down international travel. Then the war broke out in October 2023, dealing another setback to the industry, which had only recently begun to see its numbers rise again.

“We were just beginning to recover,” said Elisa Moed, who managed the sales and marketing of a recent group for Eshet Incoming. “It’s hard, but I’ve seen how things in Israel can change overnight – the hope is that this (current military) operation will be short and we’ll reclaim April, May, June, July.”

Moed, who is also the CEO of Travelujah, handled logistics for her group’s departure – only two days earlier than scheduled – through the Egyptian border. She lauded tourists who decided to come knowing the threats that had been brewing for weeks. 

“Some groups even chose to stay because they feel comfortable here,” she said. “They’re calm, confident and aware of the risks. That’s deeply moving.”

Hoard’s groups is one of four that came through Sar-El Tours that decided to stay. David Katz, assistant general manager at Sar-El, has overseen evacuations of several hundred tourists, mainly through Egypt. During the 12-day war with Iran in June many exited through Jordan, which is closer and more convenient. 

“About 500 have already left,” Katz told AIN. “But there are still people in the country who simply don’t want to go. They feel safer staying here. War usually causes an exodus, but some are weathering it in peace and calm.”

This time, with Jordanian airspace limited, Egypt is proving to be the safer bet – despite expensive re-bookings and, for many, a 12-hour bus ride to Cairo for alternate flights.

The onset of war cut short the visit of another group – 115 female pastors, leaders and influencers. Eagles’ Wings Ministries Israel Tours Director Sue TenEyck said the Awakened and Empowered tour was specifically scheduled for Purim because of its connection to the biblical story of Esther and that despite rumors swirling of a possible war, the women chose to go ahead with the journey.

“Our trips are often timed around spiritual milestones and Purim seemed like the right season,” TenEyck said. “Like Esther, we felt God was saying: if not you, then who?” 

When the U.S. Ambassador to Israel publicized the evacuation of some of his own staff from Israel on Friday, Eagles’ Wings gave their group the option to leave.

“Every woman chose to stay,” TenEyck said. 

The next morning, the war broke out. 

“Of course, the first sirens were frightening. But soon people said, ‘This is how Israelis live.’ We came to understand that, and it deepened our empathy,” she said. “There’s disappointment we won’t see all the sights, but we trust God had a different purpose. Sometimes your trip changes, but your mission remains.”

While the war has set back the industry yet again, Moed said the strength of solidarity from the Christian visitors has been encouraging. 

“These are friends who come out of love,” she said. “They pray with us, stay with us, and remind us that Israel isn’t alone.”

For Hoard, that’s the heart of the journey. 

“The Lord brought us here ‘for such a time as this,’” he said. “We’re safe, we’re at peace,” Hoard said. “And we’re right where God wants us to be.”

Though it is his first time in Israel during a war, Hoard and his group are handling the air raid sirens with calm. 

“We go down to the bomb shelter, we pray, we worship,” he explained. “Today we were in the Old City when the alarm went off. We happened to be at Aish HaTorah, and the students invited us into their shelter. It was an unexpected blessing – we met students, prayed together and saw God’s provision firsthand.”