Mediterranean to the west, valley to the east, mountain range in the centre, Golan Heights to the north and deserts to the south, Negev and Arava.

This is how Israel's geography can be schematically defined. Israel, a country with moving borders, covers an area of 20,770 km² for some 7.620 million inhabitants. Hebrew is the main language spoken, but Arabic is also spoken, which is the second official language of the country, while English is spoken by a good number of inhabitants. The official currency is the new schekel. Finally, a trip to Israel

is also characterized by a very large number of cultural heritage sites such as the site of Massada, the old city of Acre in Galilee, the desert cities of Neghev in the south of the country and many others.

The evocation of Israel alone refers to its imposing religious culture and its multiplicity of holy places. From this small country, we will remember especially that it is at the same time the cradle of Christianity but also one of the holy places of the Muslims. An escapade to Israel and thousands of years of history catch up with us. But be careful: Israel is also famous for its deserts and beaches.

In Israel, temperatures are very variable, especially during the winter season. The most mountainous regions can thus be very cold and under a constant wind. It is not uncommon for it to snow at least once a year in Jerusalem. On the coasts, cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa have a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot summers. Areas in the south of the country such as Negev and Arava cover a desert climate, characterized by very hot and dry winters, while winters are mild with a few days of rain.

Borders not recognized by the majority of Arab-Muslim countries; annexations condemned by the international community: Israel's borders are still fairly fluid today and have been modified on several occasions since its creation in 1948. Thus, while the borders with Egypt to the south-west and Jordan to the east have been confirmed by agreements between the parties concerned, those with Lebanon and Syria to the north, and especially with Palestine, still fuel regional tensions.

In general, it is still strongly discouraged to travel to and around the Gaza Strip. Vigilance remains necessary in the Palestinian Territories, these lands occupied by Israel since the Six Day War (1967).

Israel seduces with its multiplicity of biblical sites. One example is Bethleem, known as the birthplace of Christ. This city, which is 10 kilometres from Jerusalem, is now also famous for its mother-of-pearl jewellery and olive wood sculptures. For history buffs, Jericho, whose birth dates back more than 10,000 years, will also be a big part of the tour schedule: also known as the "palm cities", Jericho is one of the oldest sites to have been continuously populated.

Art and culture in Israel
Israel has no less than 200 museums. But some of them undoubtedly stand out from the crowd: the Jerusalem Museum, a national museum founded in 1965, presents many objects from different Jewish communities in the diaspora. There are also a number of rooms dedicated to works of art from all continents and an archaeological section. In Tel Aviv, the art museum, created in 1932, houses four main galleries of classical and contemporary art from Israel.

What to visit in Israel
It is necessary to anchor for a few days in Tel Aviv, where, outside its beaches, one can appreciate the Bauhaus architecture but also the diversity of its districts, Yemeni or Jewish in particular. Old Jaffa and its port are also worth a visit, as is its flea market. With a rental car in Israel towards Jerusalem. We will visit the Wailing Wall, the other Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters, but also the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and the Way of the Cross. The Mount of Olives must also be listed prominently in your travel journal.