12th Thought

The article I will be discussing, from the Jerusalem Post:
Here

The article discusses Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov views on his profession. Due to the threat of violence and economic pressures, tourism has dropped 25% this year. It's evidently a big part of Israeli economy; each 100,000 tourists brings in 200 million and 4,000 jobs. ""We have to invest in the engines of growth in the economy - which tourism is - to get out of the recession and spur jobs and growth," he says. "Tourism brings us both.""

Misezhnikov argues that the way to bring in more tourism is by 'marketing the Holy Land'. Evangelical Christians and Catholics, he states, are untapped markets. These groups have a huge religious interest in exploring Jerusalem and other holy sites, like Bethelhem. The Pope's visit, for instance, brought in thousands of pilgrims. He hopes to meet with key Christian leaders to encourage this method, focusing especially on Russia and Brazil. "Misezhnikov is essentially courting faith-based tourism," the article concludes.

Any aid to Israeli commerece is beneficial - perhaps this can end the budget cuts of the last post. Still, there seems something a little odd about this plan. Why just Christians - are Muslims and Jews already a tapped market? I'm sure Misezhnikov's idea is sound, but it seems a little strange to sell a holy visit. Surely the places exist to be studied and prayed at, not to be commercialized and marketed.

The targeting of the Evangelical market specifically makes me a bit nervous. Of course, I would encourage Christian visitation to any place they deem sacred. However, there seems to be an attitude among many conservative Evangelicals that is deeply anti-Jewish. The brilliant Christian Fred Clarke deconstructs this attitude in his slacktivist blog; Daniel Rodesh's Rapture Ready book is good, as is Chris Hedges' American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America. What I've surmized from these texts is the Christian belief (in these branches) that they need Israel to exist in order to bring about the Apocalypse. This will entail the suffering and death of all Jews save for a few who convert in time. Clarke describes how this means that while the sect supports Israel, it also desires violence in the Middle East. Only an attack on Israel will invoke the events of Revelations, so its safety and peace are not desired. Jesus will then come to earth and bring all Christians to Jerusalem, who are its rightful owerns. Given this attitude, it strikes me as dubious to encourage a feeling of ownership.

All that said, though, tourism is an important business. And while the commerical aspects are not ones I'm really comfortable with, I hope everyone who desires to gets the chance to visit the sacred places in the Holy Land.