day tour jerusalem

Home / Jerusalem

Tours in Jerusalem

There is nowhere on earth quite like Jerusalem – the heart of the Holy Land that is sacred to three religions. Filled with unique landmarks, historic monuments, and religious significance, taking tours in Jerusalem is on most people’s bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why.

If you are visiting Israel, Jerusalem should definitely be one of the top destinations on your itinerary! As you wander the cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways, you will see for yourself why this ancient city is significant to so many. No matter where you look, there is something different and exciting to discover. 

Main Sights in Jerusalem

The Western Wall

Also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, this is a place of prayer for Jews around the world and is the last remnant of their temple. Many have the custom of bringing notes to God and placing them between the ancient stones of the Wall. 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, this is the most sacred site in the world for millions of Christians. Known as the site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus, every corner of this special place is worth exploring. 

Mount of Olives 

One of the most breathtaking locations in Israel, the views from this location allow you to take in the breadth of the Old City and beyond. The area features the Church of the Holy Ascension, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of Mary Magdalene. 

City of David

The ancient history of this site is enough reason to visit on its own, but the biggest draw to this location is the tunnel water system. We recommend you take clothing that can get wet, as the water is thigh-deep! There is also a dry route if you prefer. 

With exhibits, monuments, sculptures, and memorial sites dedicated to remembrance, Yad Vashem explores the history of the Holocaust thematically and chronologically. Israel’s major Holocaust museum is deeply moving and a must-see in Jerusalem. 

Our Guided Tour Options 

Attractions such as the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the City of David are just the beginning of what there is to do. Add the bustling markets and enticing foods to the mix, and you won’t know where to look first! With limited time and so much to see, how do you prioritize what matters most to you? 

It can be challenging to get to all the must-see sights when you’re a new visitor. Organized tours in Jerusalem help you explore the city the way you want to while gaining a deep understanding of what you are seeing. Explore a combination of the sights you want to see without worrying that you are missing out. You are guaranteed to cover all the highlights. 

We offer wonderful options for guided Israel tours, some of our Jerusalem options are our 3-day Jerusalem tour: either classical Jerusalem or Christian Jerusalem . If you only have a day to explore the city, our popular Jerusalem Old City Tour , Jerusalem and City of David Tour , or Jerusalem Old and New will give you an unforgettable time. And those are just a few of the many tours in Jerusalem that we provide! Don’t forget we also offer private tours in Israel , meaning you can explore this beautiful country at your own pace, and enjoy the freedom and convenience of having your own private tour guide.

Connect. Explore. Discover. Egged Tours. 

day tour jerusalem

JERUSALEM HALF-DAY TOUR

day tour jerusalem

JERUSALEM OLD AND NEW

day tour jerusalem

JERUSALEM OLD CITY TOUR : TEMPLE MOUNT & DOME OF THE ROCK TOUR

day tour jerusalem

In the Footsteps of Jesus

day tour jerusalem

JERUSALEM & CITY OF DAVID TOUR

day tour jerusalem

DAY TOUR OF BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM

day tour jerusalem

JERUSALEM AND DEAD SEA TOUR

day tour jerusalem

Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem

Shore excursion – ashdod port private tour: jerusalem and bethlehem, frequently asked questions.

One of the most visited places in Jerusalem is the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel. This is the center of the Old City of Jerusalem and a must-see.

Here at Egged Tours, we provide a large selection of half-day, single day and multiple-day guided tours in Jerusalem. Other destinations include the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Masada tours , Galilee, and the Golan Heights. If you prefer to combine several destinations, we also offer Israel tour packages for your convenience.

April and May are the best months to visit Jerusalem. Spring is the ideal season for tours in Jerusalem because the weather is pleasant and fewer tourists come to visit. October through November are also mild months when crowds are thin. However, we recommend you check your calendar to make sure your visit does not coincide with major Jewish holidays. You don’t want to come all this way only to find that the site you most wanted to see is closed!

Yes! The Dead Sea is just an hour’s drive from Jerusalem, making these two locations the perfect combination for a day-trip. Our Jerusalem and Dead Sea tour highlights two of the world’s most breathtaking places with a qualified and licensed tour guide, all on the same day.

The best day trips from Jerusalem you can do are to Bethlehem or the Dead Sea:  Bethlehem is a popular destination only 45 minutes from Jerusalem and gives you the opportunity to tour the holiest sites in one day.  The Dead Sea, a UNESCO-listed wonder, is only an hour away from Jerusalem and is a unique natural phenomenon you won’t want to miss.

Although you could stay forever in Jerusalem without seeing it all, 3 days should be enough to see most of the main sites. And you will always have the chance to see much more the next time you visit!

Guided tours in Jerusalem enhance your trip in so many ways:

  • They know the best routes: There is a lot to see and only so much time. Tour guides will plan the trip in the way that makes the most logical sense. Instead of taking circular routes to see all the sites you want to see (and then being disappointed when you miss something), tour guides make sure you see all the places that matter most to you.

day tour jerusalem

+972-54-8680030

054-868-0030.

 Egged Tours

  • Netherlands
  • Itineraries
  • US National Parks

Destination Daydreamer

day tour jerusalem

7 Awesome Jerusalem Tours Definitely Worth the Money

Jerusalem is by far my favorite city in the whole world. I spent 4 months studying in and exploring Jerusalem so I’d say I have the experience to confidently say that. You know when people tell you to ‘picture your happy place’ I set myself on the Mt. of Olives with sweeping views of the Old City of Jerusalem while listening to the sounds of the Muslim call to prayer echoing over the city’s many minarets. That’s how much I love this city.

What makes Jerusalem so amazing is the immense amount of culture you can take in all within one city. Three main world religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) all view Jerusalem as a holy and important city with areas and sites dedicated to each group. And no matter your religious views, or lack thereof, it is fascinating to witness these three cultures intersecting within one area. And what better way to do this than on one of these Jerusalem tours!

I have since returned to Jerusalem with my husband so he could have some of the same amazing experiences I had while exploring the city. As I guided him through the bustling streets of Jerusalem and crowded walkways of the Old City he said to me over and over, ‘This is so crazy that you know your way around Jerusalem without a map.” And I totally agree, it’s crazy to know a city like Jerusalem well enough to be able to navigate from memory.

*There may be affiliate links in this post.  Read my  privacy/disclosure policy  to learn more.

Why Book a Walking or Guided Tour in Jerusalem?

Even though I had 4 months of experience living in Jerusalem, and could so confidently create an itinerary and navigate my husband and myself through the city, there were still certain experiences that I chose to book a tour for during our travels.

Jerusalem (especially the Old City) can be a little overwhelming. There are so many different cultures/religions colliding that it almost feels like you need to learn how to navigate multiple new countries but all within walking distance of each other 😅.

Besides touring the city and the Old City of Jerusalem itself, there are quite a few amazing sites to see in the surrounding area. For example, did you know Bethlehem is only a few miles away from Jerusalem? Or that you can float in the Dead Sea just an hour away?

The thing is, these places can be a little tricky to get to because you’d either need to rent a car and navigate military checkpoints along the way or figure out a potentially confusing and inconvenient public transit system.

So, because of these reasons, we decided to book a few tours in and from Jerusalem to make the most of our time in this amazing place. We paid ourselves for these tours and I am convinced we found the best Jerusalem guided tours.

So now, after 4 months of living experience and countless hours of research upon our return, I’m here to give you my recommendations for the best Jerusalem tours to book to make your time in Jerusalem amazing and as carefree as possible.

Which Company is the Best to Book Tours in Jerusalem With?

Before my husband and I traveled back to Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, I spent HOURS researching to find the best tour company in Jerusalem. I wanted to find reliable, engaging, and affordable groups to join. I kid you not, I wouldn’t be surprised if I spent over 100 hours looking just at different Jerusalem tour packages, different walking tours in Jerusalem, and the best way to complete day trips from Jerusalem.

And after booking and completing multiple tours with Abraham Tours , I am convinced I found the best group to take tours within the Holy Land. They have so many tour options to choose from! Plus I feel like the prices are very reasonable where you couldn’t do it much less expensive on your own. And you can even search by departure location of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, or Eilat.

Abraham Tours is a tour group connected with Abraham Hostels, however, you don’t need to be staying at the hostels to participate. Personally, I’m not a hostel person so we stayed at an Airbnb in West Jerusalem but still participated in multiple Abraham Tours. I would say that the vast majority of all our tour groups were staying at other places than the hostel.

And if you are thinking that these tours will only be filled with single 20-year-olds, don’t worry! Our groups had a great mixture of different types of people. There were solo travelers, couples, families with teenagers, LGBTQ, and retirees. So basically, no matter your travel situation, you can feel comfortable on an Abraham Tour !

Quick Guide to the Best Tours to Book in Jerusalem

Walking tours in jerusalem:, 1. holy city tour jerusalem (old city).

Since I lived in Jerusalem for 4 months prior to my return with my husband, I definitely knew my way around the Old City. I had ventured countless times through the streets and alleyways, so much so that I felt very confident in being able to be my husband’s tour guide during that portion of our trip.

Woman and man in front of Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem- one of the best thing to see on Jerusalem tours

Because of my experience, we didn’t opt for a Jerusalem Old City tour , however, I definitely recommend it for someone who has never been before. Having a local Jerusalem tour guide will enhance your experience SO much.

This Holy City Tour is a guided half-day walking tour that covers the amazing religious sites of the three main religions represented (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) in the Old City of Jerusalem.

You’ll enter the temple mount and see the Islamic mosque ‘Dome of the Rock’ (which is literally one of my favorite buildings in the whole world… I mean those blue, green and yellow tiles 😍). The temple mount has very specific opening hours that can easily be missed if you don’t pay attention correctly. That is one reason it is great to visit on this tour .

Large domed building with blue green and yellow tiles and gold roof

*The temple mount is always closed on Fridays and Saturdays. If you book the tour on a Friday or a Saturday you will visit a site with an overlook of the Dome of the Rock rather than getting up close. I recommend making sure you book on a day other than those two days to ensure you get to get up close and personal with the gorgeous Dome of the Rock.

Also on this tour , you’ll visit the Western Wall (sometimes known as the Wailing Wall-but its name is actually the Western Wall). This is the last remaining wall from thousands of years ago that surrounded the Jewish temple and is now a holy site/outdoor synagogue. Here you will get to observe many faithful Jews praying and reading scripture along the wall.

Large, ancient brick wall with Jews praying at the base

Plus you will visit holy Christian sites like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa (the path of Christ and the cross). A benefit of a guided tour to all of these different sites is that you will definitely gain a better understanding of the significance of Jerusalem and why this area is called the ‘Holy Land’ to so many different faiths. Plus you’ll get help navigating the sometimes confusing and crowded paths and alleys of the Old City (a big plus in my opinion).

Old white church with blue domed roof and gold cross

2. Mount of Olives Tour

This Mount of Olives tour covers an area that can be easily overlooked in Jerusalem but it has some great things to see. Just to the east of the old city is the Mount of Olives (which is actually where my university was located during my time in Jerusalem). The best part about visiting the Mount of Olives is that you get some awesome views of Jerusalem.

Green olive branches with blue sky background

The view from up there overlooking the bright blue, yellow, and green tiles of the Dome of the Rock and the blue and green domes of ancient churches is just amazing. And to top it all off, you may be up there while the Islam Call to Prayer is echoing over the city, it is just seriously the best. But that’s coming from me- I’m a total sucker for a good view.

day tour jerusalem

Plus you’ll get to get up close and personal with beautiful, ancient olive trees and visit important sites. My favorite places visited on this tour are the Garden of Gethsemane and the huge Jewish cemetery on the hillside.

day tour jerusalem

3. Meet the Ultra-Orthodox Jews Tour

If you are looking for one of THE most interesting and unique tours in Jerusalem, you for sure need to check out this ‘ Meet the Ultra-Orthodox Jews Tour ‘. To me, one of the best things about visiting Jerusalem is getting to see how different devout people practice their religions.

You’ll the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem which is home to Ultra-Orthodox Jews. It is like stepping into another world/time. Almost everything feels different in this neighborhood like the religious clothing worn, the incredibly high modesty required, and the behavior of the Ultra-Orthodox community.

day tour jerusalem

Obviously, people living their life shouldn’t be a tourist attraction. That’s why I appreciate that this tour is led by a member of the local Ultra-Orthodox Community who gives great information and insights about the local community.

If you are interested in visiting the Mea Shearim neighborhood , I definitely recommend booking this ‘Meet the Ultra-Orthodox Jews Tour’ . If you want to visit the area on your own, be sure to wear extra-modest clothing (long sleeves and pants) and don’t try to drive through the neighborhood on Shabbat (sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday) because they do not drive on the sabbath.

Day Trips from Jerusalem:

4. bethlehem tour.

I feel like you can’t travel all the way to Jerusalem and then not visit Bethlehem. Did you know that Bethlehem is only a short 15-20 minute drive from Jerusalem? However, a slightly tricky thing about visiting Bethlehem is that it is located in the West Bank on the other side of the separation wall (which is a different discussion for a different time).

Woman in front of blue door with Arabic sign overhead

But this means you will go through a security checkpoint to enter Bethlehem and will need your passport on you. Taxis are unable to cross into Bethlehem but there are some buses that are available. Personally, I didn’t want the stress of figuring out the best way to cross into the West Bank, so this Bethlehem tour from Jerusalem was totally perfect for us. Abraham Tours even makes sure to employ a local Bethlehem tour guide to ensure tourism money is still going into the city.

We met up at the desk of the Abraham Hostel which happened to be the meeting point for this Bethlehem tour , boarded a van with other group members, and made the quick drive to Bethlehem and met up with our local tour guide.

We walked through Bethlehem and learned a little bit about the history of the city and the negative effects on the city since the separation wall was built. Then we visited the Church of the Nativity which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the spot where it’s believed that Jesus Christ was born. Obviously, the church wasn’t there at the time of Christ 😅, but it was built in about 500 AD around the supposed site of the birth of Christ.

Ancient brick church with bell tower in Bethlehem

We also visited the Milk Grotto (a Catholic church in Bethlehem), a couple of shops where you can purchase beautiful olive wood nativity sets and other trinkets, and a shepherd field overlook.

I personally liked walking around the city of Bethlehem and being in the same general areas Christ may have been more than the specific holy sites we visited in Bethlehem. But I still think they are worthwhile to visit to have your own experience.

View of tan buildings across hillside in Bethlehem

Our tour guide let us make a quick stop at a Banksy graffiti piece on the separation wall (I think someone in our group asked about it). The itinerary does not include any Banksy stops- but if you ask nicely maybe your tour guide will make a quick stop for you also :). There are multiple Bansky pieces in Bethlehem all of which are very thought-provoking.

day tour jerusalem

5. Dead Sea, Masada & Ein Gedi Tour

In my opinion, the Dead Sea, Masada & Ein Gedi tour is one of the best day tours from Jerusalem you can take. This specific tour is interesting because it includes 3 great destinations all located just over an hour away from Jerusalem. The Dead Sea (think water so salty you can float in it and mineral-rich mud you can cover yourself in), Masada (think 2,000-year-old, giant, hilltop fortress), and Ein Gedi (think lovely nature walk to an oasis in the desert).

This is a ‘self-guided’ tour where the entrance price to Masada and Ein Gedi are not included. Basically, this means it is a shuttle that will take you to these three destinations and provide you with some audio tours (if you want). This may sound kind of basic, but for me, this was an amazing option to be able to not have to think about how to get to the Dead Sea on public transit.

day tour jerusalem

I have a friend who was visiting Jerusalem and she tried to take the bus to Masada and then the Dead Sea. Because of their tight schedule and their confusion about the bus stops, they, unfortunately, got off at the wrong Dead Sea stop and then had to take the next bus back to Jerusalem because they ran out of time.

I so did not want that to happen to us and really wanted to enjoy the day without thinking much. And I’m so glad we booked this experience ! It made the day super smooth and fun.

We started out with some time at Ein Gedi (and saw some adorable little critters along the trail called a Rock Hyrax). The walk is easy and ends at a waterfall and pool of water.

Small waterfall into pond surrounded by desert rocks

Then we went to Masada and rode the cable car to the top of the mountain. There are some awesome views of the Moab Mountains and the Dead Sea, not to mention the tons of ancient ruins atop the mountain to see. They even offer a Masada sunrise tour if that is something you are interested in!

day tour jerusalem

Then we ended the day hanging out at the beach of the Dead Sea aka the lowest point on earth! Be sure to bring your swimsuit to float in the water. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can roll all around in the water and not sink.

You can even pick up some Dead Sea salt to take home as a souvenir to think of your trip every time you cook (that’s what we did 🥰). Also, maybe don’t plan on shaving the morning you visit because the salt can really sting recently shaved areas 😬.

day tour jerusalem

If you are short on time or are only interested in visiting the Dead Sea, no worries, they also offer a one-stop Dead Sea tour .

Jerusalem to Jordan Tours:

6. 2-day jerusalem to petra tour.

Okay, okay, okay I know, you are in the midst of planning a trip to Jerusalem, not Jordan. However, I think you should heavily consider adding this 2-day Jerusalem to Petra tour to your itinerary. The country of Jordan neighbors Jerusalem to the east and has some amazing sites that you can easily fit into a quick 2-day road trip from Jerusalem. The drive from Amman to Jerusalem is only 1 hour and 50 minutes!

Hillside covered in white and tan cement buildings

Once again, I had already visited Jordan when I was studying in Jerusalem. However, once my husband realized we could visit Petra on this trip which is not only one of the 7 New Wonders of the World but also a filming location of Indiana Jones he was sold on us visiting.

Woman and man in front of large building carved out of red rock in the desert

And even though I’d already been, I was still logistically lost on how we would do it. Because on my prior visit, I was not responsible for any planning or logistics. Thankfully, I found this amazing 2-day Petra tour from Jerusalem and I’m so glad we participated in it!

How can you not add one more night to your itinerary to get to see the country of Jordan? It’s so close! Plus, if you do have more time, they also have a 3-day tour option or an 8-day Israel/Jordan tour option. (Spoiler alert-the 3-day tour option includes Petra PLUS a desert Jeep tour).

Woman riding camel in front of building carved out of red rock

One con I’ll admit is that I would have enjoyed more time in Petra. We had to move pretty quickly to see the things we wanted to see within our allotted time frame. However, the ease of transportation, an awesome local Jordanian tour guide, the extra sites we saw in Jordan, and the super unique experience of staying overnight in the desert at a Bedouin camp totally made booking the 2-day tour to Jordan from Jerusalem it all worth it.

Green tents in front of red rocks in the desert

However, if you do want more time than we had in Petra, just book the 3-day tour to Jordan from Jerusalem instead (problem solved!). Plus you’ll get to visit Wadi Rum and experience a Jeep tour through the desert!

Jerusalem Tour From Tel Aviv:

7. jerusalem day tour from tel aviv.

If you are staying in Tel Aviv but are interested in seeing Jerusalem, this is the tour for you! The ‘Jerusalem Day Tour from Tel Aviv’ includes all of the major highlights of Jerusalem that anyone needs to see. Like visiting the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and visiting an overlook of the Dome of the Rock.

Woman standing in front of sign that says 'Holy Sepulchre'

Plus you get to see one of Jerusalem’s hidden gems, the Mehane Yehuda Market which is full of delicious baked goods, produce spices, and more. Mahane Yehuda market is located outside of the Old City which means you will be surrounded by many locals shopping rather than only tourists.

Crowded marketplace with Hebrew signs over stalls

If you are planning a trip to Tel Aviv, I definitely recommend making time in your itinerary to take a day trip to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. And this Tel Aviv tour to Jerusalem is my top pick for that.

These two cities are only about one hour apart but are so different and unique that you need to see both. This Jerusalem tour from Tel Aviv is the perfect way to experience Jerusalem during your travels to Tel Aviv.

day tour jerusalem

And those are the guided tours to Jerusalem that I recommend (and the surrounding areas)! Please  let me know  if you have any questions in the comments below. I really did love my experience with Abraham Tours (which btw did I mention I paid for all of those tours myself-they weren’t a collaboration). Book one- if not all of these tours now- like, right now! You won’t regret it.

Check out this other post, I know you’ll love it:

8 Key West Excursions Definitely Worth the Money

Like it pin it.

Image of church with words overtop '7 best tours in jerusalem'

You May Also Like

5 ways to get to the blue lagoon in malta + things to know before you go, 8 unique canal tours in copenhagen you need to book.

' src=

Hi there Jenessa! We are taking a mediterranean cruise that stops in Jerusalem, (Ashdod) and in Tel Aviv (Haifa) do you know if any of these tours with Abraham tours are available to cruisers? Or how would a traveler get to a meeting point from the cruise port? Thanks in advance! Tara

' src=

Hey Tara, sounds fun! To take a tour with Abraham Hostels you’ll need to get to the meeting point which is the Abraham Hostel in Tel Aviv (or Jerusalem, but I think the Tel Aviv one may be easier to get to). Here is a good article on another site that give directions for either a taxi or a bus line from Ashdod Port to Tel Aviv. Good luck!

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The Only Itinerary You Need to See New York in 2 Days

Yellowstone with kids: the ultimate 2 day itinerary.

day tour jerusalem

  • Daily Tours Jerusalem Day Tours Tel Aviv Tours Dead Sea Day Tours Galilee & Golan Day Tours Bethlehem & Jericho Christian Day Tours Tours from Tel Aviv Tours from Jerusalem
  • Tour Packages Mini Packages, 2-3 Days Classical Tour Package Christian Tour Package Jewish Tour Package Jerusalem Tour Package Galilee & Golan Package Israel and Jordan
  • Private Tours Jerusalem Private Tours Dead Sea Private Tours Galilee Private Tours Israel Shore Excursions Airport Transfers
  • Destination Jerusalem Tours Dead Sea Tours Masada Tours Nazareth Tours Galilee & Golan Tours Tel Aviv Tours Caesarea Tours Bethlehem Tours Jericho Tours Petra & Jordan Tours
  • Petra Tours Petra from Jerusalem Petra from Tel Aviv Petra from Eilat Petra 1-Day Tours Petra - 2 Days Jordan 3-4 Day Tours Israel and Jordan
  • Shore Excursions Haifa Shore Excursions Ashdod Shore Excursions
  • Blog Activities in Israel Israel Culture Practical Travel Info Jordan Travel Guide

Bein Harim

  • Bein Harim Israel Tours

Israel Day Tours

Israel day tours appeal to tourists with a wide range of interests who want to experience the best of Israel and get the most out of their time in the Holy Land. With our day tours, you will see more than you would if exploring on your own and without the stress of making transport arrangements or researching the best sites. We have carefully selected the top attractions to include in our Israel tours and taken care of all the details so you can simply enjoy the day. On our day tours you will visit places you have only dreamed of, see magical landscapes, Biblical sites and iconic landmarks like Jerusalem, the Galilee, Bethlehem, Jericho, Masada, Dead Sea etc. You can choose to join a standard size group tour or a smaller group for an additional fee. All of our daily tours are available in English, Spanish, French, German and Russian and all tours depart daily. Travelers are treated to a pick-up service directly from their hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Herzliya and Natanya and at the end of the day are returned to the same place. All of our tour guides are extremely knowledgeable, experienced professionals certified by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. We believe in excellent service and provide 24/7 support to answer all your questions and assist you in any matter that may come up. Day tour prices include all of the day’s costs (except lunch) including entrance fees to sites unless otherwise stated in the tour description. 

day tour jerusalem

Extra Savings!

  • Promo code to use on you next booking
  • Exclusive offers and latest travel deals
  • Weekly recommendations

day tour jerusalem

Congratulations!

day tour jerusalem

Or just pick up the phone:

day tour jerusalem

Change Tour Type

day tour jerusalem

Where to Travel?

  • Jerusalem Tours
  • Tel Aviv Tours
  • Bethlehem Tours
  • Caesarea Tours
  • Dead Sea Tours
  • Nazareth Tours
  • Masada Tours
  • Jericho Tours
  • Galilee & Golan Tours
  • Petra & Jordan Tours

Orientation

Departure Day

day tour jerusalem

Jerusalem Old and New Day Tour

Jerusalem and Bethlehem Tour

Jerusalem and Bethlehem Tour

Masada and Dead Sea Day Tour

Masada and Dead Sea Day Tour

Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Tour

Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Tour

Caesarea, Acre and Rosh Hanikra Tour

Caesarea, Acre and Rosh Hanikra Tour

Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity Full Day Tour

Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity Full Day Tour

Jerusalem and Dead Sea Tour

Jerusalem and Dead Sea Tour

Bethlehem, Jericho and Qasr al-Yahud

Bethlehem, Jericho and Qasr al-Yahud

Jerusalem Half Day Tour

Jerusalem Half Day Tour

City of David Tour Jerusalem

City of David Tour Jerusalem

Jerusalem In the Footsteps of Jesus Tour

Jerusalem In the Footsteps of Jesus Tour

The Dead Sea Relaxation Tour

The Dead Sea Relaxation Tour

Jerusalem Old City Tour

Jerusalem Old City Tour

Jerusalem Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock Tour

Jerusalem Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock Tour

Jericho, Dead Sea and the Jordan River Tour

Jericho, Dead Sea and the Jordan River Tour

Sea of Galilee Christian Tour

Sea of Galilee Christian Tour

Golan Heights Tour

Golan Heights Tour

Judean Desert Jeep Tour

Judean Desert Jeep Tour

Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Tour

Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Tour

Jerusalem Palm Sunday Procession Tour

Jerusalem Palm Sunday Procession Tour

Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market

Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market

Tel Aviv Graffiti Tour in Nachalat Binyamin

Tel Aviv Graffiti Tour in Nachalat Binyamin

Jaffa Walking Tour - Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, the Flea Market and More

Jaffa Walking Tour - Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, the Flea Market and More

The Perfect Tel Aviv Walking Tour

The Perfect Tel Aviv Walking Tour

Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port

Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port

Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Ashdod Port

Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Ashdod Port

Masada and the Dead Sea Day Tour from Ashdod Port

Masada and the Dead Sea Day Tour from Ashdod Port

Thank you for subscribing

Keep in Touch

Email

Customer Care

Get to Know Israel

Popular Destinations

Our Services

THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Jerusalem

Day trips from jerusalem.

  • Jerusalem to Bethlehem
  • Jerusalem to Ein Bokek
  • Jerusalem to Masada
  • Jerusalem to Jericho
  • Private Day Trips
  • Up to 1 hour
  • 1 to 4 hours
  • 4 hours to 1 day
  • 5.0 of 5 bubbles
  • 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • Special Offers
  • The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

day tour jerusalem

1. Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

2. Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

3. Bethlehem, Jericho, and Qasr El Yahud Day Trip from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

4. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

5. Tour to Bethlehem, Jordan River, Dead Sea Mini Group. Up to 6 pax

day tour jerusalem

6. Jerusalem Old City Biblical Tour from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

7. Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

8. Jerusalem Light Rail Private Tour

day tour jerusalem

9. Old and New Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

10. Jerusalem Half Day Tour: Holy Sepulchre and Western Wall

day tour jerusalem

11. Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour from Jerusalem & TelAviv

day tour jerusalem

12. Jerusalem Private Full Day Tour

day tour jerusalem

13. Jerusalem and the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

14. Hebron Dual Narrative Tour from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

15. Travel To Bethlehem, Jericho & Jordan River - Group Guided Tour from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

16. Travel From Jerusalem To Bethlehem and Dead Sea - Daily Group West Bank Tour

day tour jerusalem

17. Bethlehem Half Day Private Tour - Pick up from Jerusalem/Tel Aviv/Ashdod

day tour jerusalem

18. Fully Inclusive Private Customized Israel Tour

day tour jerusalem

19. Full Day Private Christian Tour in Jerusalem with Tour Guide

day tour jerusalem

20. Jerusalem Tour from Tel Aviv: In the Footsteps of Jesus

day tour jerusalem

21. From Jerusalem: Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity Full Day Tour

day tour jerusalem

22. West Bank Tour from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

23. Jerusalem & Dead Sea Private Tour - Visit Holy Jerusalem & Dead Sea Relaxation

day tour jerusalem

24. Jerusalem Old City from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

25. Masada, Ein Gedi and The Dead Sea from Jerusalem

day tour jerusalem

26. Holy Jerusalem Private Tour

day tour jerusalem

27. Full Day Jerusalem Tour: In Jesus' Steps

day tour jerusalem

28. Luxury Private Tour to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

29. Old Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv

day tour jerusalem

30. Bethlehem, Dead Sea, Jericho and Jordan River Private Tour From Jerusalem/TLV

What travelers are saying.

Victor C

  • Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv
  • Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem
  • Old and New Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv
  • Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem
  • Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour from Jerusalem & TelAviv
  • Maya Israel Tours
  • Booqify - Amazing Jerusalem
  • Elchanan Maimon
  • Tiyoul-Tov Tourist Guide Francophone in Israel - Day Tours
  • Shai Nahon - Ecological Tourism
  • Sagi Levy Tour Guide
  • Guided Tours Israel - Day Tours
  • The Hidden Valley Day Tours
  • Aviv Tours Israel - private tour guide
  • Uri Goldflam - Travel Trailer Israel
  • Roni Stern Your Tour Guide In Israel
  • Israel By Mouth, Foot or Private Tour
  • Taste Jerusalem - Shuki Haidu
  • Joel Meyer - Licensed Tour Guide and Educator in Israel
  • Eye on the Tropics
  • Trending Now (Opens in new window)
  • Central Florida Spotlight
  • Entertainment
  • Politics and Elections
  • Space and Technology
  • Central Florida Gets Real
  • 9 in Your Neighborhood
  • Hour by Hour
  • Watch Live: WFTV Now
  • WFTV 24/7 News
  • Weather 24/7
  • The $pend $mart Stream
  • Law & Crime
  • Curiosity NOW
  • 9 Investigates
  • Back to School (Opens in new window)
  • Steals and Deals (Opens in new window)
  • TV 27 Community Connection
  • Forever Family
  • Uplifting News (Opens in new window)
  • Health & Wellness
  • Care Connect
  • WFTV's Law Talk
  • Home Experts
  • Central Florida Guide (Opens in new window)
  • The Daily Two
  • Health Wellness (Parrish Healthcare)
  • Advertise With Us
  • Meet Our Team
  • Submit a Tip (Opens in new window)
  • WFTV Mobile Apps (Opens in new window)
  • Newsletter Sign-up (Opens in new window)
  • WFTV Listings
  • TV 27 TV Listings
  • Jobs at WFTV/WRDQ (Opens in new window)
  • WFTV Member Help
  • Visitor Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Share Your Pics!

Thousands of Christians attend Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem against a backdrop of war

day tour jerusalem

Israel Palestinians Palm Sunday Christians walk in the Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

JERUSALEM — (AP) — Thousands of Christian faithful attended Palm Sunday celebrations at Jerusalem’s sacred Mount of Olives, marking the first day of Holy Week as conflict surges across the region.

Pilgrims waved branches and fronds in the air, items that were placed before Jesus’ feet as he was greeted by cheering crowds during his entrance into Jerusalem, according to the Bible. Earlier Sunday, Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre — revered as the site of Jesus’s crucifixion — also held a service.

The annual celebration came as the Israel-Hamas war rages on in Gaza. However, the conflict appeared to have had little effect on the procession, which swelled to a similar size as last year.

“Although there is war, in my impression I don’t feel any kind of tension,” said David Manini, a pilgrim from Italy.

The celebration marks the beginning of the most somber week in the Christian calendar, which marks Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter.

“I’m here because I love Jesus Christ,” said Jennifer Weedon, who traveled form the United States for the occasion.

Since the war erupted, Israel has seen a huge downturn in tourism. The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants from Gaza invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Israel has responded with an air and ground war that has left more than 32,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.

One of the placards held by a pilgrim read, “Save us lord. The Church of Saint Porphyrius and Holy Family Church, Gaza.”

In late October, Palestinian health officials said that an Israeli strike hit St. Porphyrios, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza where displaced Palestinians were sheltering, killing 18 people.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

$1M Powerball ticket sold in Central Florida

$1M Powerball ticket sold in Central Florida

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse: Ship issued ‘mayday’ before hitting bridge, governor says

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse: Ship issued ‘mayday’ before hitting bridge, governor says

Deputies: Man arrested after killing Orange County woman, leaving her baby to die in hot car

Deputies: Man arrested after killing Orange County woman, leaving her baby to die in hot car

Prime Seminole County shopping center sells for $68.7M

Prime Seminole County shopping center sells for $68.7M

UPDATE: Gov. DeSantis cancels news conference in Orlando

UPDATE: Gov. DeSantis cancels news conference in Orlando

  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

Middle East crisis: Netanyahu says preparations for ground assault on Rafah will ‘take some time’ – as it happened

Israeli prime minister reiterates his intention to launch a ground offensive but cautions over timing

  • 6d ago Hamas official: Israel retracted previous negotiation approvals in latest talks
  • 6d ago Netanyahu: preparations for ground assault on Rafah will 'take some time'
  • 6d ago Hamas says Israeli response to truce proposal negative
  • 6d ago France claims to have destroyed Houthi drone near commercial vessels in Red Sea
  • 6d ago Blinken expected to add Israel to countries visited on Middle East tour
  • 6d ago Summary of the day so far …
  • 6d ago Cameron: vital to get pause in fighting but Israel has to 'get Hamas leaders out of Gaza'
  • 6d ago WHO documents over 400 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since 7 October
  • 6d ago Israel claims it has killed 90 fighters and interrogated 300 suspects at al-Shifa hospital
  • 6d ago Cameron: UK continues to 'push Israel to allow more crossings to be open' into Gaza for aid delivery
  • 6d ago At least 28 killed in three separate overnight Israeli airstrikes on refugee camps
  • 6d ago Welcome and summary

Destroyed buildings in Gaza following bombardments amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Netanyahu: preparations for ground assault on Rafah will 'take some time'

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again stated Israel’s intention to launch a ground offensive against Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, but cautioned that it will “take some time” for Israel’s forces to be ready.

Reuters reports Netanyahu said that he will soon approve a plan for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from fighting areas after having green-lit the military’s operational plans for Rafah.

Israel has repeatedly told Palestinians in Gaza to flee to Rafah for their safety, and there is now a huge displaced population living there in makeshift tents. An airstrike on Rafah today killed more Palestinians, with the Hamas-led ministry of health saying that the number of people killed in Israel’s military assault has nearly reached 32,000.

Haaretz reports that in his statement, Netanyahu said Israel’s military continues to operate in Khan Younis. He added “We continue to eliminate and capture senior Hamas officials as we just did in al-Shifa Hospital, eliminating many hundreds of terrorists.”

Earlier Israel claimed it had killed about 90 fighters at the al-Shifa hospital complex. Hamas has denied using it as a base, and said those killed were civilians, patients and medical staff. Neither sets of claims have been independently verified.

It is approaching 5.30pm in Gaza and in Tel Aviv. Here are the headlines …

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu again stated on Wednesday Israel’s intention to launch a ground offensive against Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, but cautioned that it will “take some time” for Israel’s forces to be ready. In a video statement Netanyahu said that he will soon approve a plan for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from fighting areas after having green-lit the military’s operational plans for Rafah.

Israel has repeatedly told Palestinians in Gaza to flee to Rafah for their safety, and there is now a huge displaced population living there in makeshift tents. An airstrike on Rafah on Wednesday killed more Palestinians, with the Hamas-led ministry of health saying that the number of people killed in Israel’s military assault has nearly reached 32,000.

Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan said on Wednesday that the Israeli response to the group’s latest Gaza ceasefire proposal was negative after mediators handed it over. In a press conference in Beirut he claimed that Israel had retracted previous negotiation approvals in the latest talks.

The UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, has said it was vital for a pause in fighting to allow for the release of hostages, but that Israel has to “get Hamas leaders out of Gaza”. Earlier on Wednesday Cameron had said his country continues to “push Israel to allow more crossings to open and for longer, and for healthcare, water and sanitation to be restored.”

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived on Wednesday in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for talks. His sixth visit to the region since 7 October will also include Egypt , and he is expected in Israel on Friday.

In an operational update on Wednesday Israel’s military claimed to have killed “approximately 90 terrorists” and to have “questioned over 300 suspects” at the al-Shifa hospital medical complex in Gaza. It said “an additional 160 suspects have been transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning”. Israeli troops entered the hospital on Monday. It also claimed to have found weapons stored at the hospital. Ismail Al-Thawabta , director of Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office, said that all those killed at the al-Shifa hospital complex by Israeli forces had been wounded patients and displaced persons inside the hospital. Neither sets of claims has been independently verified.

A delegation of US and British doctors is in Washington DC to tell the Biden administration the Israeli military is systematically destroying Gaza’s health infrastructure in order to drive Palestinians out of their homes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it has recorded over 400 attacks on healthcare infrastructure in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 12 March 2024.

Demonstrators in Jeruslam gathered Wednesday outside an Unrwa office calling for the UN agency that works with Paelstinian refugees to be disbanded. Israeli authorities have claimed that 12 of Unrwa’s 13,000 Gaza staff members were directly involved in the 7 October Hamas attack inside southern Israel which killed about 1,140 people. Another protest on Wednesday in Tel Aviv blocked a highway as friends and families of those being held hostage in Gaza called for their release.

Trade unionists and anti-weapons campaigners have staged protests outside two UK factories on Wednesday – one in Edinburgh and one in Cheltenham – in the latest UK demonstrations calling for an end to British arms sales to Israel.

A French Navy helicopter destroyed a Houthi combat drone in the southern Red Sea to protect merchant ships, the EU’s mission in the Red Sea, known as Aspides, said on Wednesday.

Israel ’s high court has passed an Israeli request to demolish the home of Israeli-occupied West Bank resident Khaled Abed Alfatah Almukhtasab. In October he seriously injured an Israeli police officer in a shooting in occupied East Jerusalem . It will be the first time Isreali authorities demolish the house of a Palestinian whose attack caused no fatalities.

Independent US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has said he does not support a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.

We are closing this live blog for today. You can find all of our latest coverage on the Israel-Gaza war here .

Independent US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has said he does not support a temporary ceasefire in Gaza .

Speaking to Reuters, he told it Israel was a “moral nation” that was justly responding to Hamas provocations with its attacks on Gaza.

Asked if he supported a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, Kennedy told Reuters: “I don’t even know what that means right now.”

Kennedy said that each previous ceasefire “has been used by Hamas to rearm, to rebuild and then launch another surprise attack. So what would be different this time?” he said.

Recent polling has suggested Kennedy is backed by 15% of registered voters in the US, nowhere near enough to attain the presidency, but in a position where he could take votes from incumbent Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Earlier this week Trump said that Jewish people who voted for the Democratic party “hated Israel” and “hated their religion”.

Hamas official: Israel retracted previous negotiation approvals in latest talks

Reuters is now carrying a fuller quote from senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan , who told a press conference in Beirut that Israel had rejected its proposals for a ceasefire.

The news agency quotes him saying:

On Tuesday evening, our brothers, the mediators, informed us of the occupation’s position on the proposal. It is a negative response in general and does not respond to the demands. In fact, it retracts the approvals it previously provided to the mediators.

Video footage obtained by Al Jazeera in Rafah and shared on social media shows the extent of damage caused by an Israeli airstrike there earlier today.

دمار كبير لحق بمنزل عائلة فلسطينية في حي الجنينة برفح إثر غارة جوية إسرائيلية خلفت شهداء وجرحى #حرب_غزة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/DjXLvekUqA — الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) March 20, 2024

Hamas says Israeli response to truce proposal negative

Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan said on Wednesday that the Israeli response to the group’s latest Gaza ceasefire proposal was negative after mediators handed it over, Reuters reports.

Head of the Mossad David Barnea had been on Doha earlier in the week for talks, and representatives of Israel had stayed there in order to continue negotiations.

Earlier today the UK foreign secretary David Cameron said it was “vital” to get a pause in fighting in order to secure the release of hostages being held in Gaza , and US secretary of state Antony Blinken is visiting Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with a planned stop in Israel on Friday to make a further push for a ceasefire.

Antony Blinken ’s visit to Israel is understood to be taking place on Friday. Images of Blinken arriving today in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia have appeared on the news wires in the last few minutes.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken walks arrives in Jeddah, 20 March.

France claims to have destroyed Houthi drone near commercial vessels in Red Sea

Reuters reports that according to a statement from Aspides’ headquarters in the Greek town of Larisa, a French destroyer warship detected an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying near commercial vessels, and the warship’s helicopter, “patrolling in the area, was guided by the destroyer to engage and destroy the drone with its machine gun.”

Israel has continued to bombard the southern and central Gaza Strip, including Rafah, where many displaced Palestinians have fled the five months of military assault. Here are some of the latest images from the news wires.

Smoke plumes billow after Israeli bombardment over Rafah on 20 March.

Blinken expected to add Israel to countries visited on Middle East tour

Reuters reports an Israeli government official said on Wednesday that US secretary of state Antony Blinken was expected in Israel “end of week” on his tour of the Middle East.

Blinken returned to the region on Wednesday for his sixth visit since the 7 October Hamas assault inside southern Israel, to push for a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages held by in Gaza . It was known that he would be visiting Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

In the UK, the BBC’s most senior figure, director-general Tim Davie, has described social media remarks about the Israel-Gaza war by some of the corporation’s journalists as “unacceptable”, PA Media reports.

However, he told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wednesday that the BBC remains “impartial”. His comments came after culture secretary Lucy Frazer recently said she believes the broadcaster is biased “on occasion”.

When asked about retweets by BBC Arabic staff that Conservative MP Damian Green dubbed “essentially pro-Hamas”, Davies replied:

Some of those tweets that we’ve seen are unacceptable, and we have taken action and we’ll continue to take action; whether I can convince you that it will never happen again … of course not. We are robust and I think we’re doing the fair thing, we’re acting fairly and judiciously and it’s not easy. I mean, you’re seeing it around the world, every news organisation, every cultural institution as you know is under enormous pressure … this is enormously fraught.”

A small number of BBC Arabic journalists had been criticised for allegedly liking posts comparing Hamas to “freedom fighters” after the 7 October attacks while others have been criticised for calling or endorsing posts calling Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocidal” and the country a “terrorist apartheid state”.

Davie said “social media activity with regard to this issue” has led to many BBC staff facing “threats” and has caused some to leave.

In Gaza City there has been a funeral for 23 Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a gathering of people at the Kuwait Roundabout. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the gathering was to facilitate the transportation of aid.

Relatives and Palestinians perform a funeral prayer for 23 Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering of people at the Kuwait Roundabout on 20 March.

Near the Israeli-occupied city of Nablus today relatives have buried Fakher Bani Jaber, who was shot by an Israeli settler on Tuesday.

The foreign ministry of the Palestinian Authority has condemned the killing, reports the Wafa news agency, with a statement blaming Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s policy of making gun distribution to Israeli citizens easier. It described the killing as a “heinous crime”.

Mourners assist a relative of Fakher Bani Jaber, during his funeral in the village of Aqraba, near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Wednesday, 20 March.

According to the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, since 7 October, 420 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or Israeli settlers inside the occupied West Bank. Israel has occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address US Republican senators via video linkup to their weekly policy lunch on Wednesday, Reuters reports, citing a source familiar with the plan, days after the Senate’s Democratic leader gave a speech harshly criticising him as an obstacle to peace.

The plan underscored the politicisation of Washington’s Israel policy, in which the Israeli leader has been aligned with Republicans.

In his speech last week, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer , long a supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish US elected official, told the Senate that Netanyahu’s government “no longer fits the needs of Israel” and urged for new elections in the country to take place.

Republicans in turn harshly criticised Schumer. Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that Schumer’s speech was inappropriate.

Netanyahu’s plan to address the weekly Republican policy lunch was first reported by the political news outlet Punchbowl.

Summary of the day so far …

It has just gone 2pm in Gaza and Tel Aviv. Here are the headlines …

The UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, has said it was vital for a pause in fighting to allow for the release of hostages, but that Israel has to “get Hamas leaders out of Gaza”. Earlier Cameron had said his country continues to “push Israel to allow more crossings to open and for longer, and for healthcare, water and sanitation to be restored.”

In its latest operational update Israel’s military has claimed to have killed “approximately 90 terrorists” and to have “questioned over 300 suspects” at the al-Shifa hospital medical complex in Gaza. It says “an additional 160 suspects have been transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning”. Israeli troops entered the hospital on Monday. It also claims to have found weapons stored at the hospital. Ismail Al-Thawabta , director of Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office, has said that all of those killed at the al-Shifa hospital complex by Israeli forces had been wounded patients and displaced persons inside the hospital. Neither sets of claims has been independently verified.

Mourners held funeral prayers Wednesday morning outside a hospital in central Gaza for 28 people killed in three separate Israeli airstrikes on urban refugee camps. Nineteen people, including five women and nine children, were killed when a strike flattened a family home late Tuesday in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Another person was killed in a separate strike in the camp. A strike in the nearby Bureij camp killed eight people, including three women.

Demonstrators in Jeruslam have gathered outside an Unrwa office calling for the UN agency that works with Paelstinian refugees to be disbanded. Israeli authorities have claimed that 12 of Unrwa’s 13,000 Gaza staff members were directly involved in the 7 October Hamas attack inside southern Israel which killed about 1,140 people. Another protest in Tel Aviv blocked a highway as friends and families of those being held hostage in Gaza called for their release.

Trade unionists and anti-weapons campaigners have staged protests outside two factories – one in Edinburgh and one in Cheltenham – in the latest UK demonstrations calling for an end to British arms sales to Israel.

Israel’s president Isaac Herzog has announced that he will hold a ceremony to honour three Israeli hostages that were killed by Israel’s military inside the Gaza Strip.

A statement from his office said:

In light of the extraordinary circumstances of the event, the president decided to honor the determination, fortitude and special bravery they demonstrated and to award their families a unique certificate of appreciation in the name of the state of Israel.

Yotam Haim , Alon Shamriz and Samer El-Talalqa were abducted from two kibbutzim inside southern Israel on 7 October during the Hamas attack that killed about 1,140 people.

After being held hostage, they were killed in December in the Gaza City area of Shejaiya by Israeli troops who shot them after identifying them as a threat during fighting.

Reuters reports that Ismail Al-Thawabta , director of Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office, has said that all of those killed at the al-Shifa hospital complex by Israeli forces had been wounded patients and displaced persons inside the hospital.

“The Israeli occupation army practices lying and deception in spreading its narrative as part of justifying its continuous and law-breaking crimes, which violate international law, international humanitarian law,” he said.

Israel’s military earlier said that it had killed approximately 90 fighters and had interrogated 300 suspects at the al-Shifa hospital since it entered the complex on Monday. It also claims to have found weapons stored at the hospital. [ See 8.07 GMT ]

Neither sets of claims has been independently verified.

Chris McGreal

A delegation of American and British doctors is in Washington DC to tell the Biden administration the Israeli military is systematically destroying Gaza’s health infrastructure in order to drive Palestinians out of their homes.

The doctors, who have recently returned from volunteering at Gaza’s besieged hospitals, are expected to meet White House officials and senior members of Congress this week to warn that pledges of increased aid to Palestinians under bombardment are largely meaningless without an immediate ceasefire to allow safe distribution of food and the revival of healthcare services.

Professor Nick Maynard, the former director for cancer services at Oxford University who worked at the al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza at the beginning of the year, accused the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of “appalling atrocities”.

“The IDF are systematically targeting healthcare facilities, healthcare personnel and really dismantling the whole healthcare system,” he said.

“It’s not just about targeting the buildings, it’s about systematically destroying the infrastructure of the hospitals. Destroying the oxygen tanks at the al-Shifa hospital, deliberately destroying the CT scanners and making it much more difficult to rebuild that infrastructure. If it was just targeting Hamas militants, why are they deliberately destroying the infrastructure of these institutions?”

Read more here: US and UK doctors in Washington to warn of IDF’s ‘appalling atrocities’ in Gaza

  • Israel-Gaza war
  • Middle East crisis live
  • Middle East and north Africa

Most viewed

Is­rael’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 167

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a tour of the Middle East hoping to secure a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza.

A gunman opens fire during a funeral of Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli strike

Here’s how things stand on Thursday, March 21 , 2024:

Fighting and humanitarian crisis

  • Israel’s military said on Wednesday it had killed about 90 gunmen and arrested 160 in a raid on Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital , an allegation the Palestinian group Hamas denied.
  • Al-Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one of the few healthcare facilities partially operational in the north of the territory and had also been housing displaced civilians.
  • Separately, Israeli authorities ordered 25 patients who had been receiving treatment in hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem to return to Gaza on Wednesday, the UN office for humanitarian affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday.
  • On a video call with US Republican senators on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu estimated the death toll in Gaza at 28,000, Senator Josh Hawley told The New York Times. In January, Israeli intelligence officials admitted Gaza’s Ministry of Health’s death toll figures are accurate.
  • That figure places the number killed in the besieged enclave since Israel began its offensive in October at 4,000 lower than Gaza’s Health Ministry, which estimates at least 31,923 deaths as of March 20. The United Nations and international humanitarian organisations and experts consider the Gaza Health Ministry toll reliable.

Diplomacy and regional tensions

  • Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan said on Wednesday that the Israeli response to its latest Gaza ceasefire proposal was “negative”, making it likely talks in Qatar would again fail to yield an agreement.
  • Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a tour of the Middle East by holding talks in Saudi Arabia, hoping to secure a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza.
  • In Saudi Arabia, Blinken said he believed “the gaps are narrowing” and a ceasefire agreement is “very much possible”, the Saudi news channel Al Hadath reported on Wednesday.
  • On Wednesday, Netanyahu told US Republican senators that Israel will continue its efforts to defeat Hamas in Gaza, after the Israeli prime minister addressed them via videolink.
  • Separately, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned surface vessel launched on Wednesday from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea.
  • A small group of Israeli protesters picketed outside the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) office in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday calling for the organisation to be disbanded.
  • Almost 70 former US officials, diplomats and military officers have urged President Joe Biden to take a firmer stance with Israel over its actions in Gaza, as well as the expansion of settlements and failure to respect civil liberties in the occupied West Bank.

Violence in the occupied West Bank

  • Two Palestinian men were killed by an Israeli drone attack on Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent has said, according to the Wafa news agency.
  • Dozens of mourners gathered in the village of Aqraba, near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Wednesday for the funeral of Fakher Basem Bani Jaber. The 40-year-old Palestinian man was shot in the back a day earlier by an Israeli settler near the village of Yanun, southeast of Nablus, the Wafa news agency reported.
  • Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel’s Leader

The senate majority leader, chuck schumer, explains why he decided to speak out against benjamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From The New York Times, I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, in a speech without precedent, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Israelis to hold an election and vote out their current leader. Soon after, my colleague Annie Karni sat down with Schumer to understand why he did it. It’s Friday, March 13th.

Annie, this story begins with a speech. So let’s start there. Tell us about this speech.

I rise to speak today about what I believe can and should be the path forward to secure mutual peace and lasting prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.

So last Thursday, without much warning, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority leader took to the Senate floor and started delivering what ended up being a really personal, really meaty speech about his Jewish identity and about Israel.

I speak for myself, but I also speak for so many mainstream Jewish-Americans, a silent majority whose nuanced views on the matter have never been well represented in this country’s discussions about the war in Gaza.

So he starts by describing himself and giving a sense of why he sees himself as a guardian of the people of Israel.

Of course, my first responsibility is to America and to New York. But as the first Jewish Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the highest ranking Jewish elected official in America ever, I also feel very keenly my responsibility as a Shomer Yisrael, a guardian of the people of Israel.

But he quickly turns to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and describes some of the suffering and displacement there.

Entire families wiped out, whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble, mass displacement, children suffering.

And he gets to his point very quickly that Israel has a moral obligation to do better.

Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the sins of Hamas. And Israel has a moral obligation to do better. The United States has an obligation to do better.

And that this is not in line with Israel’s values what’s happening in Gaza.

What horrifies so many Jews especially is our sense that Israel is falling short of upholding these distinctly Jewish values that we hold so dear. We must be better than our enemies, lest we become them.

That Israel’s approach to its war against Hamas in Gaza is not in sync with what he sees as the very meaning of being a Jew and what Israel is supposed to represent.

That’s right. And he also kind of frames it as this is not only hurting the Palestinians, but it’s hurting Israel.

Support for Israel has declined worldwide in the last few months. And this trend will only get worse if the Israeli government continues to follow its current path.

He thinks that when they’re prosecuting the war in this fashion, they are quickly losing global support, American support, their reputation on the world stage. And he thinks that Israel’s future is in jeopardy if it doesn’t have public support from the rest of the world.

The existence of Israel, he’s saying, is in jeopardy.

We cannot let anger or trauma determine our actions or cloud our judgment.

So Schumer in the speech carefully lays out that he thinks the only path out of this is a peace deal. He specifically says they need to work towards a two-state solution.

The only real and sustainable solution to this decades-old conflict is a negotiated two-state solution, a demilitarized Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in equal measures of peace, security, prosperity, dignity, and mutual recognition.

And then he goes through four obstacles to such a peace deal.

Right now, there are four — four major obstacles standing in the way of two states. And until they are removed from the equation, there will never be peace in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank. The four major obstacles are — Hamas and the Palestinians who support and tolerate their evil ways; radical right wing Israelis in government and society.

The most shocking one that he lists —

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas —

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

I will explain each in detail. The first major obstacle —

And what specifically does Schumer point to about Netanyahu?

Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel.

He has filled his government with far right extremists that Schumer called out by name in the speech.

He has put himself in coalition with far right extremists like Minister Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. And as a result, he has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.

And Netanyahu has ruled out what Schumer is saying is the answer, which is a two-state solution.

And he has shown zero interest in doing the courageous and visionary work required to pave the way for peace even before this present conflict.

The way he’s carrying out this war, even the Biden administration has criticized him for not doing more to mitigate civilian deaths.

He won’t commit to a military operation in Rafah, that prioritizes protecting civilian life. He won’t engage responsibly in discussions about a day after plan for Gaza and a longer term pathway to peace.

In Schumer’s view —

The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7th.

He is stuck in the past.

Nobody expects prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, to preserve Israel’s credibility on the world stage, and to work towards a two-state solution.

And can’t do the things necessary to move Israel into the future past this war.

Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask, must we change course?

Then he gets to what becomes the real big headline of this speech and makes it kind of the bombshell moment in US-Israeli relations that it became.

I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.

He says that as the war winds down, Israel should have a new election. And he makes it clear that he thinks Netanyahu should be removed from power.

I also believe a majority of the Israeli public will recognize the need for change. And I believe that holding a new election, once the war starts to wind down, would give Israelis an opportunity to express their vision for the post-war future.

The reason he is saying this now is because Israel doesn’t have to hold an election until 2026.

Two years from now.

Yes. That’s a lot of time for Netanyahu to stay in power. And according to Schumer, watch Israel’s reputation abroad erode. So what Schumer is saying is, hold that election much sooner, as soon as this war is over, and get rid of Netanyahu so Israel can correct course.

I mean, everything about that is highly unconventional.

It’s unprecedented. And this is why Schumer is really careful with his language in this section of the speech.

Of course, the United States cannot dictate the outcome of an election, nor should we try. That is for the Israeli public to decide.

Making it clear that Israeli voters will decide. He’s not trying to decide for them.

If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down —

But then later in the speech, he also makes it clear that if Netanyahu stays in power, the US will have no choice but to take additional measures to pushback on him.

Then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course.

And he is not specific about what those are, but makes clear that there will be more pushback from America if Netanyahu stays.

The United States’ bonds with Israel is unbreakable. But if extremists continue to unduly influence Israeli policy, then the administration should use the tools at its disposal to make sure our support for Israel is aligned with our broader goal of achieving long-term peace and stability in the region.

Right. And I was listening to this section of the speech. And he uses the word, “tools.” And it definitely felt to me, and I wonder how you heard it, that the word “tools” meant money, American aid to Israel.

Almost certainly. The US sends several billion of military aid to Israel every year that is underpinning this war in Gaza. Schumer’s critical to moving that aid through Congress. And this is him sort of saying that — not explicitly, he doesn’t say money, he says tools. But that they have a lot of leverage over Israel. And this is also what makes the speech so remarkable in the first place, because Schumer is calling for these new elections and then following it up by saying we have other tools if this continues in the direction it’s going right now.

From the ashes, may we light the candles that lead to a better future for all.

Right. And what did feel so historic about this speech I think to so many of us is that Schumer is saying so many quiet things out loud, the first being that the US sees Bibi Netanyahu as a problem that needs to be removed, big enough saying that. And on top of that, he says, we are willing and ready, if we need to, to essentially turn off the US financial spigot to Israel if the Netanyahu government doesn’t leave or significantly change. And both of those just cannot be overstated for their enormity and their unprecedentedness.

It was a huge, historic, risky speech that Chuck Schumer made. I mean, I think this was probably one of the riskiest moments of his career, that he is putting himself out there to make this call and ramp up this pressure on Netanyahu.

The people of Israel at home and in captivity deserve America’s support.

Immediately after Schumer leaves the floor, Mitch McConnell, the Minority Leader, takes to the podium and blasts the speech.

It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel.

Republicans try immediately to say —

We need to be standing with Israel. And we need to give our friends and allies our full support.

Democrats aren’t being anti-Bibi, they’re being anti-Israel.

Chuck Schumer speech was an act of courage, an act of love for Israel.

Democratic response is mixed. Some said he did a great job. He did something brave. And others —

I’ve got full faith and confidence in the Israeli people to make the right determination about what their future should look like and —

Said he crossed a line, and this was inappropriate. President Biden was brief in responding, but he called it a good speech.

I’m not going to elaborate on his speech. He made a good speech. And I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans.

Many people interpreted that as the administration thinking that Schumer speaking out was helpful to their aims. And then there’s Trump.

Because he was always pro-Israel. He’s very anti-Israel now.

— who called any Jew who votes for Democrats to be self-hating and hate Israel.

Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel. And they should be ashamed of themselves.

And finally on Sunday, Netanyahu made the rounds on some of the Sunday shows here.

I think Schumer’s statements are wholly inappropriate. I think we’re not a banana republic. The people of Israel will choose when they’ll have elections who they elect. And it’s not something that will be foisted upon us.

And in fact, he continues to say we’re going to invade Rafah. We’re going to keep up the aggression in Gaza. So clearly, he doesn’t feel the need to react in terms of his policies to the speech in any way.

But we have to finish the job. We need total victory. There’s no substitute for total victory.

Netanyahu’s message to Schumer basically is, go fly a kite. I don’t care what you say to me. I am not changing a thing about my approach to this war.

That’s right. This is a watershed moment for Schumer and a turning point in the US relationship to Israel in the middle of this war. And in part, because the reaction to the speech was all over the place, I was left with a lot of questions about why Schumer decided to do this in the first place. And that’s how I ended up sitting with him in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon to ask him, why did you give this speech? What were you hoping it would do? Who is it for? And how does it fit in with your long standing relationship with Israel and with your own Jewish faith?

We’ll be right back.

So Annie, tell us about this interview you end up having with Schumer in Brooklyn.

So we end up meeting at James Madison High School in Midwood, Brooklyn.

Nice to see you. Thank you. Want me to sign? Great. Thank you.

We walk in together. And he has to sign in at the front desk.

This is his alma mater a few blocks away from the house he grew up in the 1950s and ‘60s.

What a moment to come back here.

To where it all began.

Sort of. I guess that’s the golden nights.

It was a heavily Jewish neighborhood at the time.

OK. Now we can go — this is the library.

So as we’re walking around the school, he’s reminding me of what it was like to grow up in this neighborhood.

It was right after World War II. And America was advancing.

As a Jew in the shadow of the Holocaust.

Recent memory. There were ladies on my block who would show you the numbers on their arms from the camps. And I remember —

That was a very present reality for him.

And yet at the same time, for the Jewish people, for me, so much part of my existence, Israel was there. Well, out of the Holocaust came Israel. And we were so proud of Israel.

And he talked about how exciting and enamored he was with the creation of a Jewish state that came out of the Holocaust.

In the Holocaust, Jewish people, we didn’t fight back enough. And here is Israel fighting to create a homeland against overwhelming odds.

And in 1967, when Israel was fighting a war with Arab neighbors and was nearly wiped off the map, he was very invested.

When I walked around the halls of this high school, Madison High School, in 1967, I was walking with a transistor radio — it’s June, we’re ready to graduate — attached to my ear because I thought Israel would be pushed into the sea. That’s the connection. This is long before politics.

This was part of his identity in these formative high school years.

Right. The story he’s telling, which is familiar to many American Jews, is of growing up at a time when the Holocaust is still casting a very long shadow. And Israel is such a potent symbol of Jewish survival and strength. And for somebody like Schumer, the very idea of Israel, its very existence, tugs at their heart. They don’t live there, but it is a source of extraordinary inspiration.

That’s right. Absolutely. And by the time he gets into politics in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, he’s also very aware of the fact that Israel is a bipartisan issue. Democrats and Republicans alike steadfastly support Israel. They’re committed to the close relationship and giving aid and military support to Israel. And he is really proud of the fact that he said, whenever I carried legislation for Israel, I always had a Republican. That was a credo. And that, he thinks, is key to Israel’s success, that it’s bipartisan.

So how do I know Bibi? I’ve known him for a long time. I didn’t know —

It’s around this time that he first crosses paths with Bibi Netanyahu. He had gone to Harvard with Bibi’s brother, who was an Israeli war hero who died in combat and became a huge national figure. They didn’t know each other personally, but he said that kind of helped foster a connection with Bibi.

And in the beginning, Bibi did a lot of good things for Israel. He was the economic minister and created almost an economic miracle. We were so proud that Israel was doing startups and tech and all these things. When he first became prime minister, he was fine. Look, he was to the right, but not far right.

And when Netanyahu becomes prime minister, he wanted to back him. His gut was to stay with him and back Netanyahu even as other Democrats thought he was moving too far to the right.

Right. And Bibi’s rightward drift becomes extremely pronounced, so much so that he opposes President Obama’s plan to make peace with Iran through a nuclear deal. And Netanyahu actually travels to the US Congress to give a speech asking Congress, asking someone like Schumer, to reject that nuclear deal.

Exactly. And Schumer at the time was the rare Democrat who broke with Obama over the Iran deal.

You sided with Netanyahu against Obama.

Yes. And I talked to Netanyahu quite a lot.

He must have been thrilled with that vote.

And said it was a matter of conscience to protect Israel. And he voted against that deal.

I mean, suffice it to say, for a very long time, Chuck Schumer is a supporter of Bibi Netanyahu, so much so that he is even willing to break with his own Democratic president because he agrees with Netanyahu that policies like the Iran nuclear deal are bad for Israel.

Yes. I’d say that maybe he had some criticisms, but Chuck Schumer was Netanyahu’s best hope in terms of Democratic leadership in the United States.

But somehow, Bibi drifted way to the right. And one of the turning points was when he just embraced Trump so completely.

For Schumer, his views on Bibi start to change when Donald Trump is elected here. And Netanyahu becomes extremely close with him and starts to pursue policies that Democrats see as not at all in keeping with their values. So Bibi, together with Trump, pursues diplomatic deals between Israel and its Arab neighbors that do not take into account the future of Palestinians. His government expands settlements with Trump’s support. And basically what this means is that Israel is taking the land that would be essential to creating a two-state peace deal in the future.

And all of this infuriates Democrats who think these policies are making a two-state solution impossible, and taking away the leverage that Palestinians might have had.

He has now become so interested in self-preservation that he does —

Bibi also faces corruption investigations, which force him to bring very right wing politicians into his government.

And Schumer told me that he thinks he never would have made these alliances 10 years ago. So really, what happens during the Trump years, in Schumer’s mind, is that Bibi just gives up on Democrats and what they want for Israel and the Palestinians, and just wants to be aligned with Trump.

— and I’ll tell you in a meeting I had. He comes in to see me. It’s about 2018/2019. And I said, Bibi, I agree with you. The greatest short-term threat to Israel is the rockets Iran gives Hezbollah, and they put them in Lebanon and shoot them at Israel. But the greatest middle and long-term danger is you lose America, particularly the half of America that’s more progressive and/or the half of America that’s young. And by your embracing Trump, you are making that happen.

So in his mind, Bibi chooses Republicans and walks away from this history of bipartisan support.

That’s right. And that becomes even more of a problem after October 7th.

Well, just explain that, Annie.

Well, after October 7th, there’s broad support for Israel, who was just the victim of a terrorist attack against defenseless citizens. But as the war continues and the Netanyahu regime starts to take these aggressive actions in Gaza, that support starts to dwindle.

— United States, because I look at the numbers, and they’re rapidly decreasing. When you ask people, do you support Israel or the Palestinians, it’s getting all too close.

And in his mind, his fear that Israel will lose the support of America seems to be playing out in a really acute way. He can see it in his party, who’s really divided over what’s happening in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.

I am worried, if Israel loses support from America, its future could well be over. I want —

And his fear, what he fears is that there could come a tipping point when the majority of this country does not support Israel, and it’s alone in a hostile goal Middle East without the necessary financial backing from the United States.

So as the highest elected Jewish official in America, and one of the leading Jewish — whatever you want, people in America, I felt an obligation to do this. This was not political.

And this is why he says he ultimately sat down to write this speech.

This is so part of my core, my soul, in Yiddish, my neshama —

In his mind, the goal here is to try to save Israel from Bibi’s actions, which he thinks imperil its future.

Once Schumer decides to write this speech, Annie, and to encourage Israelis to hold an election, and in that election vote out Netanyahu, I’m curious, how does Schumer tell you he thinks about the precedent that that sends, that the US will try to influence a foreign country’s decision about who should lead it?

I asked him about that. And he said he was aware that this section of the speech was the most delicate line he had to toe.

Did you consider — did you consider not personalizing it with Netanyahu and just calling for policy changes?

I didn’t think that would be enough. And he’s the fount of the problem. To just call for policy changes, I thought it wouldn’t pierce, it wouldn’t do anything.

It wouldn’t do anything. It would forgettable.

Yes. It’s so urgent and so important. I didn’t think it was appropriate to call for him to step down. But I thought the next step thing over, and say why I think he’s a bad leader.

And did you think —

So he was writing this speech with the notion of being careful about appearing to interfere front of mind. And he thought where he landed, going further than simply calling for policy changes, but stopping short of calling for her resignation and calling for new elections, he thinks he toed the line and didn’t cross it.

Got it. Now clearly, many people, including Netanyahu, disagree about whether Schumer crossed a line. But I’m curious if those people were his audience. I mean, who is Schumer really talking to with this speech? Does he think he’s speaking directly to Israelis and asking them to demand a new election and that they’re going to listen? Or actually, is he really talking to a more domestic audience, in particular his fellow Democrats, who are increasingly upset about this war, and potentially, it looks like willing to hold it against their party’s leaders?

He put this pretty simply when I asked him.

It’s intended for all people who love Israel and feel so conflicted by what’s going on there. The purpose of the speech is to say, you can still love Israel and feel strongly about Israel and totally disagree with Bibi Netanyahu and the policies of Israel.

He said that it was aimed, above all, at American Jews and non-Jews who love Israel. And what he wanted to do here was separate Netanyahu from Israel and make it crystal clear to people that you can be anti-Netanyahu, you can totally disagree with how he’s conducting the war in Gaza, and you can still be as pro-Israel as ever. He wanted to create this separation between Netanyahu and Israel and make Jews and non-Jews alike feel like it’s still OK to be pro-Israel.

This is kind of important, so I want to linger on it for a second, Annie. Schumer is telling you that what he’s really trying to do is give Americans a kind of new structure and vocabulary for thinking about Israel in this moment. And that structure and vocabulary is there is an Israel separate from Netanyahu. And so if you’re angry at Israel in this moment, you should really be angry at Netanyahu, not Israel.

That’s right. He’s asking them to blame Bibi, not Israel. That Israel is better than this, is better than Bibi, and to see it that way. It’s almost the same way that people who love America but hate Donald Trump would have felt during the Trump administration. That they still believe in this country, but they don’t believe in Trump.

That feels like a very complicated request that Schumer is making. Because the reality is that Israelis have repeatedly made Bibi Netanyahu their leader. So much so that if you’re an American, especially a younger American, and Schumer wants those younger Americans to separate Bibi from Israel, that would be pretty hard to accomplish. Because he’s been leader of Israel for as long as some of these young Americans have been alive. So how is Schumer thinking about whether what he’s asking for is really possible?

I mean, yes, it’s a little bit of wishful thinking. It’s true that a lot of Americans don’t really know the Israel of Schumer’s childhood that he’s able to remember. But they are not. He’s doing this in the middle of a six-month long war, where people are just horrified by the conditions in Gaza. And the Israeli government is the one that is carrying on this offensive.

But a lot of Jews, a lot of American Jews are really conflicted, because at the same time, they understand that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas. And I think that Schumer is trying to give voice to these conflicted, maybe middle-of-the-road politically American Jews who don’t know what to think about Israel right now, and do probably love Israel the way he does, but also feel awful about the images they’re seeing from Gaza.

So this call from Schumer for a new leader of Israel is kind of his way of resolving that internal conflict that people are feeling. But of course, it’s not clear if that election will be called. And even if it were called, it’s not clear whether Israelis would elect a new leader.

So I guess my question is, what then? Schumer’s speech does mention these other tools that the US has at its disposal. When would Schumer be willing to use those tools?

Yeah. I asked him about the question of, what then?

You don’t want a ceasefire, but is there like 30,000 more Palestinians dead —

Well, I wouldn’t I’d say — look, Israel — no, I have to, I just feel —

I said, what’s your red line? What is the civilian death toll that would have to be reached for you to say we’re pulling this funding?

You said in your speech, if something doesn’t change, then there’s the threat of American —

I didn’t say conditions and I didn’t say leverage. I just said America is going to look at it as a thing —

And you didn’t say exactly what —

No, because I didn’t want to.

You didn’t want to. But what would the scenario be where that would —

Well, you’d have to see. I couldn’t speculate on the future.

And he didn’t want to say.

Well, then why even give the speech if Schumer is not willing to talk about the real consequences for Israel, if there are no elections, and if Israelis don’t end up removing Netanyahu from office? If he can’t explain that, why give this speech?

I asked him that. And he kept coming back to the fact that, for him, this came from a deeply personal and emotional place, and a moral obligation that is central to him, to speak up for Jews and to stand up for the State of Israel. And he really dreads that Israel’s future, its very existence could be vulnerable, in the same way that it was when he was growing up, and in a way that he’s worked throughout his entire career to help fend off, and in a way, now Schumer at the pinnacle of his power as Senate Majority Leader, could be incapable of helping to fend off in the future.

No, I couldn’t look myself in the mirror if I didn’t do it. And then three, four months from now, the US has turned on Israel, and people, even my colleagues, are putting things, conditions and stuff, which will hurt Israel. I can’t do it. Couldn’t do it.

And I think that’s his deep terror about Israel’s future. And that’s why he felt called to do this speech now, he said, before it’s too late.

Well, Annie, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Thank you, Michael.

On Thursday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said that in the coming days, he plans to invite Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, an invitation that would first have to be approved by Senator Schumer.

Here’s what else you need to know today.

Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law.

On Thursday, the US government sued Apple for violating antitrust laws through practices that it says were designed to keep consumers reliant on Apple’s iPhone and unlikely to switch to a competing device.

We allege that Apple has employed a strategy that relies on exclusionary anticompetitive conduct that hurts both consumers and developers.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple has blocked rival software developers and mobile gaming companies from offering better options on the iPhone, resulting in higher prices for consumers. In response, Apple said it would vigorously defend itself in court and warned that if successful, the government’s lawsuit would hinder its ability to make the technology that customers want.

Today’s episode was produced by Will Reid and Michael Simon Johnson, with help from Eric Krupke. It was edited by Marc Georges and Paige Cowett, contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you on Monday.

The Daily logo

  • March 26, 2024   •   29:13 The United States vs. the iPhone
  • March 25, 2024   •   25:59 A Terrorist Attack in Russia
  • March 24, 2024   •   21:39 The Sunday Read: ‘My Goldendoodle Spent a Week at Some Luxury Dog ‘Hotels.’ I Tagged Along.’
  • March 22, 2024   •   35:30 Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel’s Leader
  • March 21, 2024   •   27:18 The Caitlin Clark Phenomenon
  • March 20, 2024   •   25:58 The Bombshell Case That Will Transform the Housing Market
  • March 19, 2024   •   27:29 Trump’s Plan to Take Away Biden’s Biggest Advantage
  • March 18, 2024   •   23:18 Your Car May Be Spying on You
  • March 17, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion?’
  • March 15, 2024   •   35:20 A Journey Through Putin’s Russia
  • March 14, 2024   •   28:21 It Sucks to Be 33
  • March 13, 2024   •   27:44 The Alarming Findings Inside a Mass Shooter’s Brain

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Annie Karni

Produced by Will Reid and Michael Simon Johnson

With Eric Krupke

Edited by Marc Georges and Paige Cowett

Original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

In a pointed speech from the Senate floor this month, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, called for Israel to hold a new election and for voters to oust the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Soon after, Annie Karni, a congressional correspondent for the Times, sat down with Mr. Schumer to understand why he did it.

On today’s episode

day tour jerusalem

Annie Karni , a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.

Chuck Schumer is wearing a suit and glasses. He looks off in the distance with a stern look on his face.

Background reading

Mr. Schumer, America’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official, said he felt obligated to call for new leadership in Israel .

His speech was the latest reflection of the growing dissatisfaction among Democrats with Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Annie Karni is a congressional correspondent for The Times. She writes features and profiles, with a recent focus on House Republican leadership. More about Annie Karni

Advertisement

COMMENTS

  1. Best of Jerusalem Day Tour

    Join our Best of Jerusalem Day Tour for the easiest and most comprehensive way to discover this magical city for an unbeatable price. You will explore ancient Jerusalem's Old City, as well as the modern, vibrant, metropolis of today. Our Jerusalem Day Tour visits the highlights within the walls of the Old City, including the Western Wall, Via ...

  2. THE TOP 10 Jerusalem Day Trips (w/Prices)

    The best Day Trips in Jerusalem according to Viator travelers are: Travel To Bethlehem, Jericho & Jordan River - Group Guided Tour from Jerusalem. Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour from Jerusalem & TelAviv. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem.

  3. THE 10 BEST Jerusalem Tours & Excursions

    These experiences are best for tours in Jerusalem: Old and New Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv; Must See Israel Self-Guided Video Tour; Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv; Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem; Jerusalem Boutique Tour from Tel Aviv; See more tours in Jerusalem on Tripadvisor

  4. Jerusalem Day Tours

    Jerusalem Day Tours are designed to cover the highlights and focus on a specific aspect of the city, such as religious landmarks, historic and archaeological gems, or following in the footsteps of Jesus. You can discover iconic sites like the Mount of Olives, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the City of David. Most tours include time in the Old City and a pick-up and drop-off service.

  5. Old and New Jerusalem Full-Day Guided Tour (Mar 2024)

    For Christians, Jews and Muslims alike, Jerusalem is the spiritual center of the world. Take this guided all-day tour to better understand the city's 4,000-year-old history and visit its important sites. See what are widely considered the holiest places in the world: the Western Wall, the holiest of Jewish sites; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located where Jesus was crucified and buried ...

  6. Jerusalem Tour: A Full Day in Jerusalem

    Photos of Jerusalem Tour: A Full Day in Jerusalem. 1/27. Close. MAIN HIGHLIGHTS ITINERARY GOOD TO KNOW WHAT'S INCLUDED PICK A DATE FAQ's. Home > Tours > Jerusalem Tour: A Full Day in Jerusalem. TOUR SUMMARY. DAYS 1. PRICE FROM . 200 ILS . DIFFICULTY LEVEL. TRIP TYPE. MODERATE

  7. Jerusalem Tours

    Best of Jerusalem Day Tour. Recommended for first-time visitors. Starts in Tel Aviv & Jerusalem. Available every Sunday, Monday Tuesday, Thursday. See Details. From. $99. Per Person.

  8. Full Day City Tour of Jerusalem

    Full Day City Tour of Jerusalem. 4 / 5 348 reviews. Certified by GetYourGuide. Activity provider: Bein Harim Israel Tours. Add to wishlist. View all 12 images. Explore the city of Jerusalem on a full-day tour to the Mount of Olives, the Jewish and Christian Quarters, Cardo, Via Dolorosa, the Church of Holy Sepulcher, Mt. Zion and the Holocaust ...

  9. Best of Jerusalem Full-Day Tour from Jerusalem (Mar 2024)

    8 to 11 hours. From. $200.00. Private Tour: The Best of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. 12. 10 hours. Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem. 9 hours. $106.00.

  10. Bein Harim

    What To Expect - Jerusalem Day Tour. This Jerusalem Old and New Tour starts on Mt. Scopus with stunning views of Jerusalem's skyline. In the distance is the Old City and Temple Mount where the golden dome of the Dome of the Rock offers the perfect photo-op. Looking down we see a 3,000-year-old Jewish cemetery.

  11. 2024 Jerusalem Full Day Tour provided by Rent a Guide Israel Tours

    Which company provides Jerusalem Full Day Tour? Jerusalem Full Day Tour is hosted by Rent a Guide Israel Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Rent a Guide Israel Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Jerusalem Full Day Tour on Tripadvisor.

  12. Tours in Jerusalem: Experience the Ancient Beauty

    We offer wonderful options for guided Israel tours, some of our Jerusalem options are our 3-day Jerusalem tour: either classical Jerusalem or Christian Jerusalem. If you only have a day to explore the city, our popular Jerusalem Old City Tour , Jerusalem and City of David Tour , or Jerusalem Old and New will give you an unforgettable time.

  13. Jerusalem Day Tour

    This full-day tour, led by our handpicked Israeli tour guides, departs from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem four times a week and is the best way to conveniently explore the north of Israel in just one day. Caesarea, Haifa and Akko Tour shows you the highlights of the North and ends with return transfer to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

  14. City of David & Underground Jerusalem Day Tour

    07:45 - Pickup from Jerusalem. 08:30 - City of David Tour. Enter the historic City of King David archaelogical site. Tour it's tunnels and see real excavations of Bronze age Jewish history. Stand in the actual location where, according to Jewish tradition, King David lived and served God and the Israelites.

  15. 7 Awesome Jerusalem Tours Definitely Worth the Money

    Jerusalem Tour From Tel Aviv: 7. Jerusalem Day Tour from Tel Aviv. If you are staying in Tel Aviv but are interested in seeing Jerusalem, this is the tour for you! The 'Jerusalem Day Tour from Tel Aviv' includes all of the major highlights of Jerusalem that anyone needs to see. Like visiting the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy ...

  16. THE TOP 10 Jerusalem Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)

    West Bank Tour from Jerusalem. 184. Witness the world of the West Bank and explore its history and culture on this full-day guided tour from Jerusalem. See where Jesus was born in Bethlehem and where he was baptized in the Jordan River. Visit the town of Ramallah and see the tomb of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

  17. Israel Day Tours

    Join our Israel Day Tours to explore the most attractive destinations of Israel. Tours depart from Jerusalem,Tel Aviv, Netanya, Herzliya. +972-3-5422000 +972-52-6588837. Daily Tours. Jerusalem Day Tours. Tel Aviv Tours. Dead Sea Day Tours. Galilee & Golan Day Tours. Bethlehem & Jericho. Christian Day Tours.

  18. THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Jerusalem (UPDATED 2024)

    Jerusalem is a great travel destination with a lot to do and see, but sometimes you need to get away and explore the surrounding areas. Book the best day trips from Jerusalem, Israel directly on Tripadvisor and take the stress out of planning. Read 323,661 traveler reviews and view photos of different trips from Jerusalem to various destinations. Find day trips to take today or this coming ...

  19. Christian Jerusalem Day Tour

    From. $99 /person. Our Christian Jerusalem day tour will change how you see the bible forever. On this full day walking tour of Jerusalem, together with an expert guide you'll be transported back 2,000 years to explore the sites you've read about in the New Testament. This tour operates once a week on Tuesdays, with guaranteed departures.

  20. Jerusalem Day Tours

    A Tailor-Made Jerusalem Experience - 1 Day Tour. From the Jerusalem stone alleyways of the Old City to the galleries of the Israel Museum and the lush green hills of Ein Karem, this custom p... from $699. An Adventurous Private Tour of the Negev Desert -- 1 Day.

  21. March 22: As Israeli team heads to Doha, official ...

    ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 172. Open Search form. search. Input search Clear search input. ... Foreign Minister Israel Katz tours the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum in Jerusalem, February 19, 2024. ...

  22. Jerusalem Day Tour from Tel Aviv

    Tour Itinerary. Day Tour. 7:30 - Pickup from Abraham Tel Aviv. Meet your guide and walk (or use the light-rail) to the train station. 8:00 - Train to Jerusalem and light rail in Jeruslem to the Old City. 9:30- Strat the tour of the old city of Jerusalem. 13:15- Lunch break in the muslim quarter.

  23. Thousands of Christians attend Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem

    Thousands of Christian faithful attended Palm Sunday celebrations at Jerusalem's sacred Mount of Olives on the first day of Holy Week. ... Chris Brown to bring '11:11' tour to Orlando.

  24. Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem 2024

    Jerusalem, Israel. Jerusalem and Bethlehem: In the Steps of Christianity Private Day Tour. 4. from $1,600.00. Per group. Jerusalem, Israel. Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour from Jerusalem & TelAviv. 232. from $50.00.

  25. Middle East crisis: Netanyahu says preparations for ground assault on

    It is approaching 5.30pm in Gaza and in Tel Aviv. Here are the headlines … Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu again stated on Wednesday Israel's intention to launch a ground ...

  26. Day Tours in Israel

    Day Tours in Israel. Our Israel Day Tours are available with guaranteed departures and are the most popular, cost-effective, and experience-rich way to explore the country. Among the options offered are tours to highlights including Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Galilee, Northern Israel, Caesarea, Eilat, and Tel Aviv.

  27. Is­rael's war on Gaza: List of key events, day 167

    Is­rael's war on Gaza: List of key events, day 167. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a tour of the Middle East hoping to secure a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza.

  28. Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel's Leader

    In a pointed speech from the Senate floor this month, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, called for Israel to hold a new election and for voters to oust the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.