Some will call it "evil", others will call it "a necessary evil" and the rest will see it as a blessing. Call it what you may, still, there's no denying that the recent, multi-million dollar Separation Barrier that Israel has been constructing along the 1949 Israel-Jordan Armistice Line is the most conspicuous – and controversial – to be added to the country's landscape in quite some time.
The Jerusalem leg of the barrier, which is nearing completion, is called the "Jerusalem Envelope", as it envelopes the city from all sides but west, thereby reinstating, in a way, its pre-1967 status as a border town which is lying at the edge of a long corridor which connects it to Tel Aviv and the coastal plain. But the effects which the barrier has on Jerusalem are well beyond that.
Take this unique, non-partisan tour to explore the complex geopolitics of one of the world's most renowned and sensitive cities. In 3-4 hours you can cover a decent portion of the 150-odd kilometer long route of the Jerusalem Envelope and see for yourself the often harsh reality which prevails in many parts of the city but is often unseen by tourists. This tour covers many subjects relating to the recent history of Jerusalem and deals, among other things, with its disputed legal status and the ethnic and religious strife prevailing in it. Still, the main focus is on the Separation Barrier. This is your chance to learn, up close, about the positive and negative effects the barrier has had on Jerusalem and to try and see what the future still holds for it.
The tour is led by an experienced licensed guide and an expert on the subject.
The Depths of Jerusalem
Imagine a huge cave, the size of two soccer pitches or more, the largest cave in the country, right under the old city of Jerusalem… Imagine ancient kings escaping through the cave, stonecutters extracting huge slabs of precious stone and secret societies holding their age-old rites in it… Jerusalem's Zedekiah's Cave has all those, and more. A vast, natural cave which was made into a major quarry some two millennia ago, it was forgotten over time only to be accidentally rediscovered in the mid-19th century, and has been captivating the imagination of Jerusalem's residents and visitors ever since. Actual evidence, compounded by myth, have linked the cave with many a name in Jerusalem's long history. Explore this astounding underworld - cool, dimly-lit and eerie, Zedekiah's Cave is a welcome and fascinating respite from the din of the Old City. Combine your visit to the cave with an adjoining underground site, allowing you access to the inner vaults and excavations beneath the adjacent, majestic Damascus Gate.