My 5 days in Israel - I'd like to share some of my observations.

I've spent a couple of days in Israel as a tourist and I wanted to tell you about my observations of the country. I've been curious about what Israel is like for a very long time. I come from an eastern European country and we have been taught a lot about the country of Israel, but every story about Israel is very different so I had a lot of questions. Questions like "How does a person live in a country that has been at war for so long?", "How is it to live in a country with such a high tech level that is surrounded by countries that are enemies with Israel?", "What are Israelies like?", "What is the situation with the Palestinians in Israel" and etc. Let's start with the first topic: **The threat of war in Israel.** <br>What I've noticed while traveling through the country is that Israelis are used to the fact that there may be a war at any moment, and they live with this knowledge every day. It surprised me when I talked to an Israeli who was in her mid-twenties and she told me that she had been to two wars in Lebanon and one in Gaza. She said she had to leave at any time and go to war. I also met a young man who told me that his brother was on the Gaza front and that he was worried about him. <br>On my way back from Tel Aviv I took a bus. The bus I was on was stopped by the military police and they checked for Palestinians who were travelling without a permit. It felt very surreal and sad to me at the same time. A young Palestinian man was arrested and taken away right in front of my eyes. I really hope he's okay. <br>I've seen many soldiers at bus stations and I've seen many demonstrations in Israel, some of which I couldn't take part in because they were illegal. It was interesting that I met several people who were in favour of a two-state solution, others who were in favour of the expulsion of the Palestinians and others who wanted peace. Just like in any country, different views of the citizens, but less common in my country than the views of the Israelis I met. <br>**Technology and innovation in Israel.** <br>The use of technology in Israel is incredibly high. Honestly, I was surprised how much they relied on technology. The whole country runs on apps. You pay with an app, you take the bus with an app, you communicate with people with an app. Just like in other countries, I guess. The influence on the country is easy to see. I have seen drones flying in the sky, a lot of solar panels and even wind farms. I thought it was really cool. Although Israel is a high-tech country, there are still a lot of poor people living there. It's sad to see how some people live there. <br>I was really surprised that I couldn't pay cash anywhere. Not even in restaurants or with street food sellers. It feels strange if the only possibility to pay is in card. I spent a lot of money because I was invited so many times and therefore I had to decline a few invitations because I honestly didn't have enough money to pay for a meal anymore. It was sweet that the people were so generous. Even though Israel is a high-tech country, the country is very dirty. <br>The streets are very dirty. I picked up trash in the forest and I cried while I was doing it. It's such a beautiful country and so many people litter. <br>**Israelis and Palestinians.** <br>In the end, I would also like to talk about the relationships between Israelis and Palestinians. This is a very difficult topic for me. From my point of view, I do not understand why the two peoples cannot come together. Both peoples have lived in the country for centuries and both have claims to the territory. That's why I see only one solution: One state where everyone has a place in society. However, that's not my decision and I don't think I have the right to decide. <br>I met Palestinians without a permit in all parts of Israel. I met Palestinians in Tel Aviv as well as in Haifa and I met Palestinians in two different Kibbuzim. <br>What I found very sad was a conversation I had with an Israeli who told me that she was afraid of her half-sister who is Palestinian. She told me that she was afraid that if they would ever meet in the street she would be stoned. That's how sad the situation is. <br>On the other hand, I met a lot of people who wanted peace. I met a lot of Palestinians who wanted to coexist peacefully. Just like Israelis. <br>In the end, I can only say that I have a lot of hope for the country. I hope that there will be peace in Israel again. I hope that the country will flourish again and that all people can live without the constant fear of war. I also hope for the Palestinians that they will have the same rights as Israelis and that they will have a chance in the country. I want to come to Israel again one day and see how the country has changed and if the country has changed at all. I wish the people of Israel all the best and peace.