“Someone needs to say it: tour agents and guides should start changing profession.”

~Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s Minister of Finance in Israel Today, Dec 13, 2021

Signaling their preference to perpetuate fear and control rather than revive a lifeless tourist industry and provide means of livelihood to guides, tour agents, bus drivers and others, the Israeli government is extending the ban on non-Israeli citizens entering the country. (Though 500,000 Israelis traveled outside the country during Hanukkah!)

The tourism industry is huge in Israel. In 2019, a record-setting 4 million+ tourists visited Israel, and were serviced by over 200,000 tourist-related workers (not counting airlines and hotels). According to macrotrends, international inbound visitors to Israel poured $6.6 billion into the Israeli economy in 2016, and that amount rose to over $8.4 billion in 2018. Indeed, tourism is big business in Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel is likely the most vaccinated country on the planet. About 2/3 of Israelis (including Arab citizens) are fully vaccinated (at least 3 doses) and a huge push is underway to vaccinate young school kids, which will boost that statistic dramatically. As of three days ago (Dec 12, 2021), Israel had less than 620 new cases, less than 100 new hospitalizations, with only a fraction of those in serious condition. (Source) Yet, Israelis may not enter a mall without a vaccine passport, and the country’s 200,000 tour guides, agents, bus drivers, etc are told, “Find another career.” Read more about the restrictions and reactions from Israelis here:

As much as I love and support Israel, I see an Israeli administration dancing to the same screeching tune as Americans, Europeans and others hoodwinked by, or sold out to, power-hungry globalists who are putting on a full court press to condition citizens worldwide to simply submit to their demands. 2 Thessalonians 2 warns of strong delusion leading to belief in lies, resulting in lawlessness that will engulf our world in the last days.

Friends, we are living in such days, but take courage that Jesus Himself will redeem us from the wrath that is to come! (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Will you take a moment right now to pray for tour guides, agents, bus drivers and others in Israel suffering without a means to support their families? May God grant them wisdom and open doors, and may they find peace and provision in Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah!