Q: Now retired and empty nesters, we’ve planned for years to make a holiday pilgrimage to Jerusalem. However, because of the recent troubles in Gaza and the West Bank, is it be safe to travel there in this holiday season? PMC, Baltimore MD

A: Jerusalem did not suffer missile nor other damage, but the recent unrest caused cancellations and other economic problems in the Israeli tourist industry. Hopefully, as of this writing, it could be a peaceful holiday season for visitors of all faiths this year.

Continue to make plans while keeping a day-by-day awareness of the news concerning tourist safety in Jerusalem. Keep up-to-date on current info with your travel agent and U.S. State Department updates at travel.state.gov