Israel

Israel appeals to me; John not so much. Today's task: complete enough research so John can weigh in on whether Israel should land in the Top 20.

Fun (and serious) facts

• Population is 8.27 million; 80% Jews; 20% Arabs; median age is 29.3
• Long, warm dry summers (April-October) and mild winters (November-March); drier and cooler in Jerusalem and other hilly regions
• Security: pay attention to travel advisories, but most are for Gaza, West Bank etc; not Israel; Israel has among the tightest security systems in the world in place (e.g., security checkpoints at most public places; unaccompanied bags are destroyed immediately; armed guards on tours ...). Some caution against using public transportation ...
• There are more museums per capita in Israel than any other country
• Cities (with descriptions from goisrael.com)
• Jerusalem: city of overwhelming emotions
• Tel Aviv-Yafo: economic and cultural center; modern dining and cafe culture
• Eilat: ultimate resort city
• Nazareth: city of religion and faith, spirituality and holiness, but also archeology, modern culture and Middle Eastern charm
• Haifa: 3rd largest city and one of its prettiest; country's largest port
• Tiberias: lively tourist center on the shores of Lake Kineret; 200 m below sea level
• Recommended things to do
• Lonely Planet: Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mahane Yehuda Market (all in Jerusalem); Manger Square and Old City (Bethlehem)
• NYTimes-36 Hours in Tel Aviv: White City; Flea Market in Jaffa; 3-mile promenade along shoreline; Suzanne Dellal Center (houses several dance companies)
• IGoogledIsrael (2009): float in the dead sea; the old city of Jerusalem; Carmel Market, Tel Aviv; Red Sea (lowest point on earth), Eilat; Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum), Jerusalem; Ramon Crater (world's largest), hour south of Beersheeva; Masada, Baha'i Gardens, Haifa
• Haaretz: Must-do's after the expected stuff: Kishle prison excavations addition to Tower of David Museum, Jerusalem; Mahane Yehuda at night, Jerusalem; Israeli Museum at the Rabin Center, Tel Aviv; Jaffa flea market after dark; Appolonia National Park, site of many archaeological treasures; Nazareth sans Jesus, foodie city; Wester Negev; Kerem Shalom, a tiny kibbutz at the tip bordering Gaza and Egypt; Jisr al-Zarqa, Israel's poorest city and home to untouched beaches; Nahal Taninim Nature Reserve, the last of Israel's clean coastal streams; Kibbutz Lotan Center for Creative Ecology; Kibbutz Yotvata (famous ice cream); 

Sites visited
Go Israel
Lonely Planet
IGoogledIsrael
Haaretz
Jerusalem Insiders Guide