ISRAEL : Travel Documentary

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ISRAEL : The Lost Cities of the Holy Land _ Travel Documentary Explore the Land of Contrasts – Israel Like You’ve Never Seen It Before. From ancient cities carved in stone to surreal desert landscapes and vibrant coastal towns, this cinematic travel documentary takes you deep into Israel’s most breathtaking scenery and hidden gems.  Walk through the timeless alleys of Jerusalem, float effortlessly in the Dead Sea, hike through the red canyons of the Negev, and discover secret spots that few travelers ever reach. Whether it’s the mystical beauty of the Galilee or the raw silence of the Judean Desert, Israel is a place of profound contrasts and unforgettable sights.  🗺 Each travel documentary on this channel is individually written, edited, and narrated to provide a high-quality and original experience for viewers.  In this travel documentary we'll explore: Jerusalem Old City Mount of #Olives #Yad Vashem #Lifta #Bethlehem #Dead Sea #Judaean Desert  #Ein Gedi Nature Reserve #Masada #Ramon Crater #Timna Park #Eilat Beit #She'an Mount #Tabor #Nazareth Sea of #Galilee Mount #Arbel #Agamon Hula Mount #Hermon #Acre #Haifa #Tel_Megiddo #Caesarea National Park #Netanya Tel Aviv #Jaffa #Ashdod  Discover the Beauty of Our Planet's Most Iconic Destinations. Welcome to a world of extraordinary travel experiences! On our channel, we take you on a thrilling exploration of some of the most iconic and breathtaking places on Earth.  #travel #travelvideo #traveldocumentary #israel #bestplaces #documentary #bestplacesinisrael

Transcript

00:00:00Here's what no one tells you.

00:00:01This tiny strip of land is quietly leading the world in ways most people never realize.

00:00:08And the more you look, the stranger it gets.

00:00:14We're about to explore the most incredible places across Israel.

00:00:18From deserts that look like Mars to ancient cities buried in time.

00:00:22But before we do, there are some facts you need to hear.

00:00:30Because once you understand what's happening behind the scenes, the places we're about to visit won't look just beautiful.

00:00:36They'll make sense.

00:00:43It starts with something strange.

00:00:45Israel is one of the driest countries in the world.

00:00:48But it's also one of the greenest.

00:00:50How?

00:00:55They recycle nearly 90% of their wastewater, more than any other country on Earth.

00:01:05That water grows crops in the desert.

00:01:07And the tech that makes it possible?

00:01:09It's exported worldwide, including to California.

00:01:21But agriculture isn't the only area where Israel defies logic.

00:01:28The country is about the size of New Jersey.

00:01:30And yet has more startups per capita than Silicon Valley.

00:01:37We're talking Waze, Mobileye, and original USB sticks.

00:01:42All born here.

00:01:48It's not just a biblical land.

00:01:50It's a global innovation hub.

00:01:52And that innovation isn't limited to offices or labs.

00:02:01Even the cows are optimized.

00:02:04Israeli dairy cows produce more milk per animal than anywhere else on the planet.

00:02:14It's all data-driven.

00:02:16Monitored 24-7.

00:02:18They're not just farming.

00:02:19They're engineering.

00:02:26But while the tech looks forward, the land constantly pulls you back.

00:02:30Because under the surface, sometimes just inches beneath your feet,

00:02:33lie layers of history thousands of years old.

00:02:41Archaeologists dig here every week.

00:02:43Entire Roman streets, ancient scripts, even named straight out of the Bible.

00:02:51It's the only place on Earth where history doesn't just live in museums.

00:02:54It shows up in someone's backyard.

00:03:02If you think that's an exaggeration,

00:03:04people here still mail letters addressed only to God, Jerusalem.

00:03:12And yes, they get delivered.

00:03:14Rabbis collect them and place them between the stones of the Western Wall.

00:03:22That's not a tradition from the past.

00:03:24That's happening now.

00:03:30But here's what really sets Israel apart.

00:03:32It's not just the contradiction of ancient and modern.

00:03:35It's how those opposites exist in the same moment.

00:03:44You can go skiing on Mount Hermon, 2,236 meters above sea level.

00:03:54Then float in the Dead Sea at 430 meters below sea level.

00:03:58All in the same day.

00:04:08You can hike across the entire country on a single trail.

00:04:11The Israel National Trail.

00:04:17It's 1,100 kilometers long.

00:04:27Crossing mountains, deserts, and coastlines.

00:04:36And at every turn, you're stepping through history.

00:04:40That's what makes Israel feel unreal.

00:04:42It's not just that the past and present live side by side.

00:04:46It's that they never separated in the first place.

00:04:57And the diversity?

00:04:59It's everywhere.

00:05:00Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, Bedouin.

00:05:04Different cultures, languages, food, music.

00:05:07All within a country you can cross in under eight hours.

00:05:19But maybe the most unexpected thing?

00:05:22Israel isn't just surviving in the desert.

00:05:24It's exporting life from it.

00:05:33Drip irrigation?

00:05:35Invented here.

00:05:36Forest growth in dry zones?

00:05:38They've reversed desertification.

00:05:45And while most countries lost trees in the last 100 years,

00:05:49Israel gained them.

00:05:51It's the only country in the world that entered the 21st century

00:05:54with more trees than it had in 1900.

00:06:05And all of this leads to one strange realization.

00:06:08This place, smaller than most U.S. states,

00:06:11has revived its land, its language,

00:06:14and built a tech powerhouse.

00:06:16All while sitting on the fault line of global history.

00:06:25Now that you know the story behind it,

00:06:28it's time to explore the places themselves.

00:06:30Because what you're about to see will look completely different with all of this in mind.

00:06:47No matter what you believe,

00:06:48this place will challenge it.

00:06:54The old city of Jerusalem is just under one square kilometer.

00:06:58But it holds more power, history, and tension per meter than almost anywhere else on earth.

00:07:15It's divided into four quarters.

00:07:17Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian.

00:07:20All within walking distance.

00:07:22And yet what happens here can impact global politics.

00:07:35But it's not just a religious symbol.

00:07:37It's a living maze.

00:07:38Streets here have been walked for over 3,000 years.

00:07:41Beneath some buildings are layers from Roman,

00:07:44Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.

00:07:46One stacked over the other like a time capsule.

00:07:56And here's the part no one tells you.

00:07:59You don't need a guide to feel something here.

00:08:01It hits you the moment you reach the Western Wall.

00:08:04The last remnant of the Second Temple.

00:08:06A site Jews have prayed at for centuries.

00:08:15Right above it, the Dome of the Rock.

00:08:17One of Islam's holiest sites, built on the same hill.

00:08:41And just steps away the Church of the Holy Spelcher,

00:08:44where many believe Jesus was crucified and buried.

00:09:00Three major religions, clashing, coexisting, colliding.

00:09:04All in a few hundred meters.

00:09:14Security is tight.

00:09:16Emotions run deep.

00:09:17But if you look past the surface,

00:09:19you'll see families, markets, school children.

00:09:22Life goes on.

00:09:23Even in the most watched city on Earth.

00:09:34And here's the strangest part.

00:09:36Despite the tension, the Old City draws millions each year.

00:09:40Tourists, pilgrims, skeptics.

00:09:43Everyone walks the same stone paths.

00:10:01And once you've been here, you realize.

00:10:03This place isn't just about the past.

00:10:06It's a mirror,

00:10:07showing the world exactly where it stands.

00:10:15But what if you could step outside the walls

00:10:17and see the entire city and its history from above?

00:10:29Because just across the valley,

00:10:31there's a hill that offers more than just a view.

00:10:33It holds stories of prophecies,

00:10:36tears, and silence.

00:10:37And it's the next place we're heading.

00:11:05It looks like just a hillside.

00:11:07But this ridge overlooking Jerusalem

00:11:09will hold centuries of prophecy,

00:11:11conflict, and memory.

00:11:20From here, you see the Old City in full view.

00:11:23The golden dome of the rock,

00:11:25the gray walls, and layers of history

00:11:26stacked like a puzzle.

00:11:28But that's only part of the story.

00:11:35The Mount of Olives is home

00:11:36to one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the world

00:11:39with over 150,000 graves.

00:11:48Many believe the Messiah will appear here first,

00:11:51and the dead buried on this slope

00:11:52will be the first to rise.

00:12:02It's also a key site in Christianity.

00:12:04According to the New Testament,

00:12:06Jesus ascended into heaven from here.

00:12:08Today, pilgrims still walk the same path,

00:12:11stopping at churches like Dominus Flevitt

00:12:13and the Church of All Nations.

00:12:20And from a strategic standpoint,

00:12:23this hill has been used as a lookout

00:12:24and military position

00:12:26in almost every major battle

00:12:28involving Jerusalem.

00:12:34But what lies beyond this view?

00:12:36Because just beyond the ridge is a place

00:12:38that doesn't honor the fallen in ancient tombs.

00:12:41It remembers them with silence,

00:12:43concrete, and ash.

00:12:54This isn't a tourist attraction.

00:12:57It's one of the most intense places in Israel.

00:13:00Yad Vashim is the official

00:13:02Holocaust memorial and research center.

00:13:09Set on the western slope of Mount Herzl,

00:13:12it tells the story of 6 million Jews murdered

00:13:15during World War II.

00:13:17But it doesn't do it with drama.

00:13:19It does it with facts.

00:13:20Photos, diaries, shoes,

00:13:22entire walls covered with names.

00:13:31It forces you to confront the scale of loss.

00:13:34One person at a time.

00:13:36The children's memorial is especially haunting.

00:13:39A dark tunnel with flickering lights

00:13:41and names whispered through the air.

00:13:42It's not just a museum.

00:13:44It's a research center.

00:13:46A documentation project and a warning.

00:13:56Every Israeli student visits it at least once.

00:14:00It's part of the national curriculum.

00:14:02Because forgetting isn't an option.

00:14:10The Yad Vashim also has a forest.

00:14:13Trees planted for the righteous among the nations.

00:14:16Non-Jews who risked their lives to save others.

00:14:19From above, the sight blends into the hillside.

00:14:22Quiet.

00:14:23Subtle.

00:14:23Heavy.

00:14:32And after leaving,

00:14:33many visitors need time to breathe.

00:14:35Which is exactly what the next place offers.

00:14:38An abandoned village hidden on the edges of the city.

00:14:41That nature is slowly reclaiming.

00:14:55Life doesn't appear in many guidebooks.

00:14:57But it should.

00:14:58It's an abandoned Palestinian village just minutes from central Jerusalem.

00:15:03Untouched since 1948.

00:15:09Stone houses without roofs.

00:15:12Winding footpaths lost in grass.

00:15:14And a natural spring still bubbling in the valley.

00:15:25Before the war,

00:15:26Lifta was a thriving Arab village with schools, shops, and about 3,000 residents.

00:15:32Today, it's frozen in time.

00:15:39No entry fees.

00:15:41No fence.

00:15:42You just walk in.

00:15:43Some call it a ghost town.

00:15:45Others call it proof.

00:15:46A visible reminder of what the 1948 war left behind.

00:16:02And here's where it gets more complicated.

00:16:05Lifta is the only pre-1948 Arab village abandoned during the war that still stands completely empty.

00:16:18Clans to redevelop it into luxury housing were blocked by activists, both Arab and Jewish, who want it preserved as

00:16:25it is.

00:16:32Walking here feels like trespassing on history.

00:16:35But leave the past behind for a moment.

00:16:38Because now we're heading to a place that is still very much alive.

00:16:46A city with constant movement, prayer, and tension.

00:16:50And for many, the birthplace of hope itself.

00:17:08Bethlehem is only 10 kilometers from Jerusalem, but crossing into it feels like entering another country.

00:17:22It lies in the West Bank under Palestinian Authority control.

00:17:27To visit, you pass through a military checkpoint, graffiti-covered walls, and into one of the oldest cities in the

00:17:33world.

00:17:45And at its heart, the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, built over a cave,

00:17:52it's one of the oldest surviving churches in the world.

00:17:55Dating back to the 4th century.

00:18:08Pilgrims line up for hours just to touch the silver star on the floor that marks the exact spot.

00:18:18But Bethlehem is more than just one church.

00:18:21It's also a modern Palestinian city.

00:18:23Markets, street food, local food.

00:18:26The separation wall here has become a canvas for political expression.

00:18:30Even Banksy left his mark.

00:18:38And that contradiction, sacred and political, peaceful, and tense, defines the atmosphere.

00:18:50But now we're going far beyond the city walls.

00:18:53Next is a place with no buildings at all.

00:18:56Only salt, wind, and silence.

00:18:59And it happens to be the lowest point on Earth.

00:19:11It looks like water, but it behaves more like oil.

00:19:15The Dead Sea isn't actually a sea.

00:19:17It's a hypersaline lake.

00:19:31At 430 meters below sea level, it's the Earth's lowest exposed point.

00:19:46The Dead Sea is a sea.

00:19:46And with 33% salinity, you can flow effortlessly.

00:19:49You don't swim here.

00:19:51You hover.

00:19:51The water is so dense that boats don't really operate.

00:19:55And fish can't survive.

00:19:56Hence the name Dead Sea.

00:19:58Dead Sea.

00:20:08But the minerals in the mud are far from dead.

00:20:11They're exported for skin care products worldwide.

00:20:14Locals and tourists cover themselves in it.

00:20:17Part of tradition.

00:20:18Part health ritual.

00:20:23But here's something few realize.

00:20:25The Dead Sea is shrinking.

00:20:27Pipelines, climate change, and reduced water flow have caused it to drop over one meter per year.

00:20:44Entire beach resorts built decades ago now sit far from the water's edge.

00:20:48And if nothing changes, it could become two separate lakes in the near future.

00:21:03But what surrounds the Dead Sea might be even more surprising.

00:21:07Because just above these salty shores lies a desert that feels like another planet.

00:21:12And hides far more than just sand.

00:21:14And hides far more than just sand.

00:22:07This desert isn't made of endless dunes.

00:22:10It's sharp, rocky, and vertical.

00:22:12The Judean desert stretches east of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea.

00:22:22It's only about 1,500 square kilometers.

00:22:25But it's full of surprises, cliffs, caves, and canyons.

00:22:29And some of the most significant archaeological finds in modern history.

00:22:46The Dead Sea Scrolls found in caves near Qamran in 1947.

00:22:51Ancient biblical texts hidden for nearly 2,000 years.

00:22:55And no one knows how many might still be out there.

00:23:00But this desert is far more than a backdrop for discoveries.

00:23:04It's still alive.

00:23:06Judean tribes move through it.

00:23:08Military exercises take place here.

00:23:10And hikers come for solitude, silence, and sun-scorched views.

00:23:23Temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius in summer.

00:23:37Flash floods can carve through dry valleys in minutes.

00:23:40It's harsh, quiet, and underestimated.

00:23:51But hidden between cliffs is something unexpected.

00:23:54A lush pocket of green where waterfalls run and animals gather.

00:23:58A place that breaks all the rules of what a desert should be.

00:24:29A place that breaks all the rules of what a desert should be.

00:24:35And suddenly the desert ends, and water flows.

00:24:39Ein Gedi is a natural oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

00:24:49Streams, waterfalls, and pools cut through rock that hasn't seen rain in months.

00:24:54It feels impossible, but it's real.

00:25:02Ibex climb along the cliffs.

00:25:04Hyraxes scurry under trees, and trails lead to cool waters where you can swim under a

00:25:09waterfall, in the middle of a desert.

00:25:16The reserve spans about 14 square kilometers, 5.4 square miles.

00:25:21Not large, but dense with life.

00:25:31And history, too.

00:25:33Ein Gedi is mentioned in the Bible as a place where David hid from King Saul.

00:25:37Archaeologists have found a 1,500-year-old synagogue here, complete with mosaic floors and inscriptions.

00:25:54The contrast is what hits you.

00:25:56Dry heat above, cold water below.

00:25:59And as you hike deeper, the sound of rushing water replaces the silence of the desert.

00:26:09Just beyond these pools is a site that takes the harshness to the next level.

00:26:13A fortress built on top of a cliff, where hundreds made their final stand.

00:26:18Do you see if you can see?

00:26:19No.

00:26:35No.

00:26:52Masada isn't just a ruin, it's a symbol.

00:26:55Built by King Herod around 30 BCE, this fortress stands on a plateau 400 meters above the Judean

00:27:12Desert.

00:27:14Sheer cliffs on every side, one narrow path leads up, and from the top, the view stretches across

00:27:21the Dead Sea to Jordan.

00:27:29But it's not just the location, it's the story.

00:27:33In 73 BCE, after the fall of Jerusalem, nearly 1,000 Jewish rebels fled here to escape the

00:27:40Roman army.

00:27:51They held out for months, and when Roman forces finally breached the walls, they found the

00:27:57defenders had chosen mass suicide over surrender.

00:28:06That's why Masada became a national symbol of resistance.

00:28:09For years, Israeli soldiers took an oath here, Masada shall not fall again.

00:28:20The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

00:28:26You can reach it by cable car or hike the snake path, especially popular at sunrise.

00:28:43The ruins are well preserved, bathhouses, palaces, storerooms, but after Masada, the land stretches

00:28:49south into something much stranger.

00:28:56A crater, formed not by an impact but by erosion, that looks like another world entirely.

00:29:02The end of the

00:29:39It looks like a meteor strike, but it's not.

00:29:43The Raman Crater on Makhtesh Raman is the largest erosion crater in the world.

00:29:53It's 40 kilometers long, 10 kilometers wide, and about 500 meters deep.

00:30:14This is geology in raw form.

00:30:17Exposed layers of earth carved by time, not collision.

00:30:21No other place in Israel looks like this.

00:30:27It's part of the Negev Desert, but it doesn't feel like desert.

00:30:30It feels like Mars.

00:30:36You'll see cliffs, ridges, red and yellow rock, and even ancient volcanoes remain.

00:30:43At sunrise and sunset, the colors shift dramatically.

00:30:52There are hiking trails, bike paths, and jeep tours.

00:30:59And up on the rim, the town of Mitzpah Raman, which has grown into a base for ecotourism and

00:31:05stargazing.

00:31:06Because here's another surprise.

00:31:12This crater is one of the best places on earth to see the night sky.

00:31:16Low light pollution, high elevation.

00:31:19Astronauts have even trained here.

00:31:26But now we head even further south, toward copper mines, sandstone arches, and one of the oldest

00:31:31industrial zones in human history.

00:31:54Long before skyscrapers or empires, people were digging here.

00:32:02Timna Park is located about 25 kilometers north of Elalat.

00:32:06It's home to the world's oldest known copper mines, some over 6,000 years old.

00:32:23Ancient Egyptians came here to extract metal using fire, hammers, and manpower.

00:32:28The landscape here looks surreal.

00:32:37Tall sandstone formations, natural arches, pillars nicknamed Solomon's Pillars.

00:32:42It's not just beautiful, it's bizarre.

00:32:53Archaeologists have found shrines, mining camps, even a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

00:32:58All in the middle of nowhere.

00:33:07And modern visitors, they come for hiking, cycling, or just driving through the Martian-like terrain.

00:33:14There's a small artificial lake, a sculpture trail, and night tours during full moons.

00:33:29But here's the twist.

00:33:31Timna combines extreme history with extreme nature.

00:33:34A place where the oldest tools and wildest views exist side by side, and just beyond it lies the Red

00:33:40Sea.

00:33:44Next, we arrive at Israel's southern edge, where coral reefs, desert mountains, and international borders all meet in one strange

00:33:52sunny city.

00:33:54The Red Sea

00:33:56The Red Sea

00:34:18The Red Sea

00:34:28At the very tip of Israel, surrounded by desert, suddenly there's an ocean.

00:34:33Eolot sits on the Red Sea, right next to the borders of Egypt and Jordan.

00:34:42It's Israel's only port on the sea, and one of the country's top vacation spots.

00:34:57But what makes it special isn't the beach.

00:34:59It's what's under the water.

00:35:01Just meters from the shore, you'll find coral reefs with hundreds of species.

00:35:12Snorkelers and divers come from around the world to explore them. No boat required.

00:35:26The water stays warm all year. Visibility often reaches 30 meters.

00:35:30And in Dolphin Reef, you can swim near wild dolphins, no fences.

00:35:53But Eolot isn't just about the sea.

00:35:56Behind the city rise the Eolot Mountains, full of red rock, desert trails, and panoramic views.

00:36:02And nearby Timna Park, copper mines and lunar escapes.

00:36:13The city also has a unique status.

00:36:16No VAT, value added tax, which means cheaper shopping in hotels.

00:36:27But now we leave the coast behind.

00:36:29Next is a place few tourists visit.

00:36:32But it holds layers of history stacked one over another.

00:36:36And a Roman theater still stands after 2,000 years.

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00:37:55This is one of the most underrated archaeological sites in Israel, but Shian has been continuously

00:38:01inhabited for over 5,000 years.

00:38:09It was Egyptian, Canaanite, Israelite, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine.

00:38:14Today what's left tells you everything about the layers of power that shaped this region.

00:38:24The Roman city is the best preserved.

00:38:27A huge theater, bathhouses, culinary dead streets.

00:38:31You can walk where senators debated and merchants traded, all in the open air.

00:38:39What surprises most visitors is the scale.

00:38:42It's massive, and much of it is still underground waiting to be uncovered.

00:38:49One detail?

00:38:51The city was destroyed by an earthquake in the 8th century.

00:38:54The ruins collapsed, and were forgotten for centuries.

00:39:00And yet the theater still stands.

00:39:02You can sit in the same seat as audiences did 2,000 years ago.

00:39:13Today the national park is quiet.

00:39:15No crowds, no noise, just stone, dust, and history.

00:39:26But now we move to something very different, a peaceful hill in the lower Galilee, covered

00:39:31in trees, and known for one of the most mysterious events in the Bible.

00:39:53From a distance it doesn't look like much, just a rounded hill rising above farmland.

00:39:59But Mount Tabor, at 575 meters, holds deep religious significance.

00:40:07Many believe this is the site of the Transfiguration, where Jesus was seen speaking with Moses and

00:40:13Elijah, glowing in divine light.

00:40:21At the summit stands the Church of the Transfiguration, built over earlier churches from Byzantine and

00:40:27Crusader times.

00:40:35The modern church was completed in 1924, and its interior is stunning, especially when light

00:40:41pours through the stained glass.

00:40:54But it's not just about religion.

00:40:57The view from the top stretches across the Jezreel Valley.

00:41:00It was once a strategic location, and many battles were fought here.

00:41:04From ancient times to the Napoleonic era.

00:41:09You can hike to the summit or drive up a winding road through forests.

00:41:13It's peaceful now, quiet, calm, almost timeless.

00:41:24Just beyond this hill lies a city where time never stands still.

00:41:28Busy markets, ancient valleys, and one of the most visited churches in the world.

00:41:52Nazareth is known worldwide as the childhood home of Jesus.

00:41:56But today, it's a busy Arab-majority city, the largest in northern Israel.

00:42:07At the heart of it stands the Basilica of the Annunciation, the spot where, according

00:42:12to Christian tradition, the angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus.

00:42:22The church is one of the most important to Christianity, and also one of the largest in the Middle East.

00:42:43It's lower level contains a cave believed to be Mary's home.

00:42:47The upper level features stunning artwork donated by Christian communities around the world.

00:42:51But Nazareth is more than one church.

00:43:02The old city has narrow alleys, spice shops, bakeries, and markets full of life.

00:43:07It's a blend of history and daily routine.

00:43:09Christian and Muslim, modern and ancient.

00:43:16The city challenges expectations, especially for those imagining a quiet village.

00:43:30But not far from here is a body of water with far more stories than it should fit.

00:43:34Where Jesus walked, fishermen sailed, and empires gathered.

00:43:42So...

00:44:06It's not a sea, it's a freshwater lake, but it holds more religious and historical weight

00:44:11than almost any other body of water.

00:44:20The Sea of Galilee, Lake Kinneret, is about 21 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide.

00:44:33It's Israel's main water reservoir and a major pilgrimage site.

00:44:38According to the New Testament, this is where Jesus walked on water, calmed the storm, and

00:44:42taught from a boat.

00:44:56Many of those places are marked today with churches, ruins, and trails.

00:45:03But the lake isn't just religious.

00:45:05It's also surrounded by hiking trails, hot springs, and archaeological sites.

00:45:17The ancient boat found in its muddy shoreline known as the Jesus boat is 2,000 years old

00:45:23and now displayed in the museum nearby.

00:45:28Fishing still happens here.

00:45:29So do baptisms, tourist cruises, and quiet sunrises over the water.

00:45:42But above this lake rises a cliff, one with caves, views, and steep drops, and a history that

00:45:48ties all of it together.

00:45:49It ties all of it together.

00:46:17It ties all of it together.

00:46:25Most people drive past it without knowing what they're missing.

00:46:28Mount Arbel rises sharply above the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.

00:46:32At its peak, 181 meters above the lake, it offers one of the most dramatic viewpoints

00:46:38in all of Israel.

00:46:47But it's not just about the view.

00:46:49The cliffs here hide ancient caves carved into the rock, once used as homes, hideouts,

00:46:54and even fortresses.

00:47:01In the first century BCE, Jewish rebels held out here against Herod's forces.

00:47:06Some were thrown from the cliffs, others died defending them.

00:47:16You can hike to the top.

00:47:17The trail is steep, with metal handles bolted into the rock.

00:47:21But the reward is silence, space, and a panoramic sweep across history.

00:47:37You'll see the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, and villages that have stood for thousands

00:47:42of years.

00:47:51And just north of here is a place that seems completely different.

00:47:55Wetlands instead of cliffs, birds instead of warriors, and a migration routine for millions.

00:48:25This valley wasn't always a paradise.

00:48:28The Hula Valley was once a swamp.

00:48:30In the 1950s, it was drained to fight malaria.

00:48:34But that caused environmental collapse, so it was partially restored.

00:48:41And today, it's one of the best bird-watching spots on Earth.

00:48:47Agamon Hula Lake is a man-made wetland that attracts over 500 million birds each year.

00:48:52Cranes, storks, pelicans, and raptors, all stopping here as part of their migration between Europe

00:48:59and Africa.

00:49:15You can bike or walk along the paths, or take a guided safari cart through the reserve.

00:49:20There's also an observation tower with telescopes and thermal cameras.

00:49:35The best times?

00:49:37Spring and autumn, when skies are filled with movement.

00:49:40And the project here isn't just about birds.

00:49:43It's about fixing a mistake, turning ecological damage into a global model for conservation.

00:49:58But if you keep heading north, the birds disappear and suddenly you're climbing the highest mountain

00:50:02in Israel, where snow falls, tanks roll, and the air feels thin.

00:50:26This isn't the Israel most people imagine.

00:50:30Mount Hermon rises to 2,236 meters, making it the highest point in the country.

00:50:39In winter, it's covered in snow and becomes Israel's only ski resort.

00:50:44In summer, it's cooler than the rest of the country, popular for hiking and views.

00:50:51But it's also a strategic location.

00:50:54The mountain sits on the border with Syria and Lebanon.

00:50:57Part of it is controlled by the IDF.

00:50:59Radar stations and lookout points are scattered across its peaks.

00:51:02From the top, you can see three countries.

00:51:05And below, springs that feed the Jordan River, ancient temples, and dense forests.

00:51:20In Jewish tradition, it sometimes is linked to the giving of the Torah.

00:51:25In Christian tradition, some believe it may have been the site of the Transfiguration.

00:51:28But for most visitors, it's simply surreal.

00:51:32Ski lifts and soldiers, snow and surveillance, peace and tension, all in one frame.

00:51:48And now we head back toward the coast, to a city built by crusaders, ruled by Ottomans, and defended by

00:51:55underground tunnels.

00:51:58There are two counties.

00:51:58Theazuje'sIl!

00:51:59The

00:51:59There are cousins.

00:51:59Aye, aye, aye..irsten

00:52:25Tek McDonald,

00:52:25Take bank electrons.

00:52:39Acker looks calm on the surface, but underneath it's hiding an entire city.

00:52:43The coastal town has been continuously inhabited for over 4,000 years, but its real fame comes

00:52:50from the Crusader period.

00:53:01In the 12th and 13th centuries, Acker was the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

00:53:06When they lost Jerusalem, they turned Acker into a fortified port city.

00:53:22Today you can visit underground halls, secret tunnels, and massive walls built to resist

00:53:28invasion.

00:53:37Above ground Ottoman-era mosques, Turkish baths, and bustling souk.

00:53:48The port still operates, fishermen sell their catch, boats bob in the harbor, but just steps

00:53:54away you're standing on top of centuries of buried cities.

00:54:02Acker is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not because of one building, but because of the

00:54:07lairs.

00:54:08And it's still alive.

00:54:09Jewish, Muslim, Christian communities all live here.

00:54:32But just down the coast is a very different city.

00:54:34built into a mountain facing the sea, with perfectly symmetrical gardens cascading down the hillside.

00:55:03built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, it's Israel's third largest city and one of its most diverse.

00:55:15Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, and Baha'i communities all share this urban space.

00:55:30But the most iconic part?

00:55:32The Baha'i gardens.

00:55:3319 terraces cascading down Mount Carmel.

00:55:36perfectly manicured, symmetrical, peaceful.

00:55:44At the center, the Golden Dome Shrine of the Baha'i, one of the holiest sites in Baha'i faith.

00:55:56The gardens are open to all.

00:55:58No admission, no pro-Celtalizing, just silence, order, and green symmetry above a busy port.

00:56:15Haifa is known for its technology sector, universities, and industrial port.

00:56:20One of the largest in the eastern Mediterranean.

00:56:23It's a working city.

00:56:25No drama, no politics, and the headlines just coexistence in coffee shops.

00:56:36But just inland lies something older.

00:56:39Much older.

00:56:40A hill that was once a military base.

00:56:42A religious center, and a place where archaeologists found one of the earliest references to the name Israel.

00:57:06The name sounds familiar, and it should.

00:57:08Tel Megiddo is better known by its Greek name, Armageddon.

00:57:20This ancient hill in north Israel was once a powerful Canaanite city.

00:57:25Its location made it crucial.

00:57:27Sitting along the Via Maris, a trade route connecting Egypt and Mesopotamia.

00:57:35Whoever controlled Megiddo controlled trade, movement, and power.

00:57:39So naturally, it was the site of dozens of battles across centuries.

00:57:48Today, the Archaeological Mount, or Tel, reveals 25 layers of civilization.

00:57:54Canaanites, Israelites, Assyrians, Egyptians.

00:57:57There's a giant water tunnel, city gates from Solomon's times, stables, and temples.

00:58:02Even an inscription referring to a king of Israel.

00:58:06One of the earliest ever found.

00:58:18But it's the prophecy that gave Megiddo its fame.

00:58:21According to the Book of Revelation, this is where the final battle of good versus evil will take place.

00:58:27Armageddon.

00:58:28Is it symbolic?

00:58:30Literal?

00:58:30No one knows.

00:58:32But the place is real.

00:58:33And it's quiet now.

00:58:40Which makes the next stop even more surreal.

00:58:42A Roman city on the sea.

00:58:45Built by a king obsessed with architecture and ego.

00:59:10built by King Herod over 2,000 years ago.

00:59:13Caesarea was meant to impress, and it still does.

00:59:24Located midway between Haifa and Tel Aviv, Caesarea was once a major Roman port.

00:59:29Herod named it after Caesar Augustus, and made sure it lived up to the name.

00:59:45There's a massive amphitheater still used for concerts today.

00:59:49A hippodrome for chariot races, public baths, aqueducts, frescoes.

00:59:54And the engineering, advanced even by modern standards.

00:59:58Artificial harbors, underwater concrete, and drainage systems.

01:00:15The ruins lie right by the Mediterranean.

01:00:18So you can stand where Roman governors once walked and looked out at the same sea.

01:00:29In fact, Pontus Pilate, the Roman prefect who sentenced Jesus, lived right here.

01:00:35An inscription with his name was found on site.

01:00:43Today, Caesarea is one of Israel's most visited national parks.

01:00:48But there's more.

01:00:49Upscale neighborhoods, an art scene, and a golf course nearby.

01:00:57Yet just a few minutes down the coast lies a modern city with something ancient beneath the surface.

01:01:03A coastline that hides both history and cliffs.

01:01:06A coastline of heaven's memory

01:01:08And we never forget about these four cities.

01:01:08The Cines in the–

01:01:09The Cines in the–

01:01:13The Cines in the–

01:01:17The Cines in the–

01:01:24The Cines in the–

01:01:25The Cines in the–

01:01:41Natanya doesn't make many travel lists, but it should.

01:01:44This seaside city about 30 kilometers north of Tel Aviv is built on high cliffs overlooking

01:01:50the Mediterranean.

01:01:55It's known for its beaches, paragliding, and long promenades.

01:01:59But dig a little deeper and you'll find hidden history.

01:02:09During World War II, it became a safe haven for Jewish refugees from Europe.

01:02:14Later it served as a center for new immigrants from Morocco, Yemen, Ethiopia, and the former

01:02:19Soviet Union.

01:02:24It's a city shaped by waves, both of water and of people.

01:02:28And while it may not have ancient ruins or sacred sites, it offers something else.

01:02:39Relaxation, clean beaches, sunset cafes.

01:02:43Walk along the cliff top trails and you'll see paragliders floating above the sea.

01:02:47Or head down to the sand for swimming, surfing, or just quiet.

01:03:01Natanya is local, authentic, and surprisingly diverse.

01:03:04The skyline to the south always catches your eye.

01:03:16Becoming next is the city that never stops moving.

01:03:18Where modern life, nightlife, tech, and history all collide on the same boulevard.

01:03:25You make day long, • A lake, nightlife, nightlife

01:03:33Have a nice world wonderful song.

01:03:33You andииi are a episode of Holy MA, but τη som Raoul on the shore.

01:03:57It feels like a different country.

01:03:59Tel Aviv is fast, loud, and creative, and proud of it.

01:04:12Founded in 1909 on sand dunes north of Jaffa, it's now Israel's economic and cultural capital.

01:04:19Skyscrapers rise above Bahu's building.

01:04:21Tech startups share space with tattoo studios, and the beach is always full.

01:04:36It's known as one of the most liberal cities in the Middle East.

01:04:39Nightlife, food, LGBTQ plus pride all out in the open.

01:04:44But Tel Aviv also has depth.

01:04:56The White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains over 4,000 Bahu-style buildings.

01:05:02The Carmel Market pulses with smells, colors, and shouting.

01:05:06And nearby, the Ytziak Rabin Memorial reminds visitors of the cost of peace.

01:05:13Every block feels different.

01:05:15Trendy Nev Zedek, startup Heavy Sirona, the Bohemian Florentine.

01:05:21And yet, just to the south it all began, in a port town that's older than history itself.

01:05:55The Black City, a Black City, a U.S.

01:05:57Jaffa is ancient, not old city ancient, we're talking over 4,000 years.

01:06:02Egyptians, Phoenicians, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans, all passed through here, and yet

01:06:08Jaffa remains very much alive.

01:06:17Today it's part of Tel Aviv, but the vibe is totally different.

01:06:21Stone alleyways, art galleries, a flea market that never really ends.

01:06:32Biblical stories happened here.

01:06:34It's where Jonah set sail before being swallowed by the whale, and where Peter received a vision

01:06:39that would change Christianity forever.

01:06:48At the port, fishermen still sell their morning catch.

01:06:51At night, locals fill the restaurants and bars along the harbor.

01:06:55It's a rare mix, ancient and cool, tourist friendly, but authentic.

01:07:02And as you walk along the promenade back toward Tel Aviv, it's hard to tell where one city

01:07:08ends and the other begins.

01:07:23But farther south, the crowd thins out, and you reach a city with fewer stories, but a powerful

01:07:29connection to trade, ships, and war.

01:08:00We'll see you next time.

01:08:14Ashdod is one of Israel's biggest ports, but it rarely shows up in guidebooks.

01:08:19Located about 40 kilometers, 25 miles south of Tel Aviv, it handles 60% of the country's

01:08:34cargo, but it's also one of Israel's oldest cities, mentioned in the Bible as a Philistine

01:08:40stronghold.

01:08:41Today it's home to over 200,000 people.

01:08:44Many are immigrants, from Morocco, Russia, Ethiopia, and France.

01:08:57The result?

01:08:58A city with global flavors, especially when it comes to food.

01:09:01There's a beautiful beach promenade, modern art museum, and sand dunes on the city's

01:09:06edge.

01:09:12But Ashdod also plays a role in defense.

01:09:15It's close to the Gaza border, and sometimes targeted by rockets.

01:09:19The Iron Dome system, which intercepts incoming missiles, has been used here repeatedly.

01:09:27It's not a city that hides its reality, but it keeps moving forward, growing, building,

01:09:32adapting.

01:09:33And after all the stories, ruins, and landscapes we've seen, Ashdod reminds us, Israel isn't

01:09:39just a land of the past.

01:09:40It's a country that lives in the present, and prepares for the future.

01:10:02This wasn't just a list of locations.

01:10:04It was a look at how place, memory, and identity all overlap.

01:10:08Sometimes peacefully, sometimes not.

01:10:15In Israel, every city, every ruin, every road carries weight.

01:10:19Religious.

01:10:20Political.

01:10:21Personal.

01:10:22And often all three at once.

01:10:29That's what makes this country hard to define, and impossible to ignore.

01:10:33Whether you come here for history, the landscapes, or the people, you leave with questions you

01:10:39didn't arrive with, and maybe that's the point.

01:10:42I should definitely win this country.

01:10:42Oh.

01:10:48But now thanks to Ali and his daughter.

01:10:49I loved it.

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