TCHATKES FOR PEACE

Number of tour groups leaps in 2005 (Hilary Leila Krieger, Jerusalem Post, 12/28/05)

The number of tour groups visiting Israel jumped substantially in 2005, including from Arab and Muslim countries, according to figures provided by the Interior Ministry Wednesday.

Jordan sent its first tour groups ever - totaling 64 individuals - according to the ministry, and Egypt's numbers rose from 47 tour participants in 2004 to 432 in 2005.

Indonesia and Malaysia - two countries that don't have official diplomatic relations with Israel - sent 7,234 and 1,431 tourists respectively on organized tours. The numbers were 4,755 and 654 apiece the year earlier.

I would guess that there were some pretty odd moments on those tours.

Posted by David Cohen at December 28, 2005 6:38 PM