Israel & the Palestinian Territories (Country Guide) (Paperback)

by Michael Kohn (Author)
Key Phrases: accommodation online, central bus station, service taxi, Dead Sea, West Bank, Ein Gedi (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Lonely Planet guidebooks are, quite simply, like no others.' --New York Times


Product Description
Listen for church bells and the call to prayer as the golden light of late afternoon illuminates Jerusalem, p. 88.
Dig your feet into the sand at a Tel Aviv beachside bar, p. 175.
Tend organic vegetables and fertilize your mind at Kibbutz Lotan, p. 344.
Start a conversation in the West Bank - how do you pickle olives? p. 295.

Six authors, 234 days of research, 12 army roadblocks, countless falafels.

History and Environment chapters by renowned experts.
The only guidebook with detailed coverage of the West Bank and Gaza.
You asked for it, we researched it: more sustainable travel experiences than ever, from eco-hotels to hiking trips.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 5 edition (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1864502770
• ISBN-13: 978-1864502770
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #12 in	Books > Travel > Middle East > Israel
  #30 in	Books > Travel > Guidebook Series > Lonely Planet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too little information, too much commentary, March 9, 2008

By	Eddie F. - See all my reviews

I am generally a fan of lonely planet books, and have used them as a guide on other trips. This particular lonely planet guide disappoints. I found this book to provide precious few details about important Jewish sites. Significant space in the book is devoted to the authors' (one-sided) political commentary. The Let's Go guide is more comprehensive and informative (with less political fluff). I recommend skipping this particular lonely planet guide.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, March 28, 2008

By	F. Moghul "Knowledge Seeker." - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a center for Judaism, Christianity, & Islam I was really excited about reading up on the section on Jerusalem. I'm planning to visit in May but after reading this guidebook, I'm left disheartened. This is the first time I've been disappointed by LP. This book doesn't do a good job of representing the 'Holy Land' traveler. The attitude that the best reason to visit sites with religious significance like the Church of the Ascension & The Mount of Olives are their 'spectacular views' is a let-down. Give me a break! The "Haram Ash-Sharif/Temple Mount" is covered very poorly. And forget about The Dome of the Rock which they didn't cover because it was only open to Muslims that day (probably because it was Friday- so SMART). I was expecting a guidebook on the 'Holy Land' to be a little more sensitive to the religious significance of the sites & would not try to serve as a reader on history tinged with political bias. I was expecting useful info like: what time to go, what is the best entrance, tips & shortcuts. For GOD'S SAKE get a Jewish, Christian, & Muslim correspondent to cover their respective sites so that they're adequately & accurately represented. This way pilgrim will find useful & relevant information. We don't need cut & paste history lessons.

22 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Reviews of palestinian lands not accurate, March 6, 2008

By	Hymie Zoltsveis "Hymie Zoltsveis" - See all my reviews

I have been to Israel many times, and know what is correct, and what is not. For unknown reasons the book's reviews of the former Israeli areas, that were turned over to the palestinian arabs are not very accurate. It is almost as if the authors used a double-standard for Israeli and non-Israeli areas.

In Israel, the travel was generally great. Clean hotels, great food, welcoming people. In most of the palestinain areas, the places were filthy, the food substandard, and the attitudes horrible. There are many places that are of religious and historic significance, that were turned over to palestinain arabs. Sadly, many of them have been trashed, vandalized, defaced and even burned down. Your guide virtually covered up the abject filth and hostility of these areas. If I had know more, I might not have ventured into these no-man's land.

My next trip, I will ignore your rosy but inaccurate analysis of the palestinain arab areas, and stay where I am welcome, and where the level of cleanliness and care are MUCH higher. Bethlehem, for example, exists to fleece Christians of their money, by muslims that act with a nasty attitude toward us. No wonder why tourism is way down, since Israel turned this area over to the PA.

The next time you write a book about palestinain arabs, PLEASE stick to objective reports and NOT report things the way that you wished they were. These areas are nasty, and the people aren't much better.