There is no “war”. Israel is literally committing a genocide 40 miles from Tel Aviv. Some acknowledgement of this in your post would have been considerate.
Yep, textbook genocide—just the kind where the population mysteriously multiplies tenfold. Fun historical twist: Gaza used to be Egypt’s responsibility, but when Sinai was handed back, Egypt basically said, “Thanks, but we’ll pass on the beachfront fixer-upper.” And now, under this so-called genocide, Gaza’s population has exploded like it’s hosting a fertility convention. Brutal oppression with a booming birthrate—truly a masterclass in paradox
You must be one sick person, openly reveling in your inhumanity and total lack of knowledge of both history and present situation of Gaza and Palestine as a whole. Please go read a decent history book and grow a heart.
Your sarcasm can’t cover for your lack of humanity to the total indifference at the killing of over 18,000 children, the bombing of whole cities reduced to rubble and the continuing starvation of 2 million people. Whatever helps you sleep better at night.
Dude, I’ve always liked your content. But I hate how you use this “war” as a running joke throughout this piece. I’m sure Israelis treat this like a minor inconvenience in their day-to-day, should you? Being as well-traveled as you are, I would have hoped you’d have the capacity to write about the world outside the self-centered perspective (your main focus was a fun tech neighborhood with bars, clubs, and how attractive the people are?) and at the very least mention the real problem elephant in the room before saying how you clearly don’t care.
I appreciate the thoughtful reply here (seriously).
For what it's worth. I believe one can visit a city, and write about their perspective on that visit, without having to include an acknowledgement/disclaimer on actions taken by the government of that country, when I have nothing new to add to a dialogue that you, me, and everyone else knows a lot about.
There are good people in Israel, some of them are my friends, and those individuals have nothing to do with the atrocities that you mentioned. What's going on in Gaza is obviously a tragedy. October 7 was too.
If I were to visit Tehran (which I'd like to do, I have a few Persian friends), I'd likely write a similar piece without acknowledging anything about their government, threats to Israel, etc. as well. There are enough other people opining on on everything else.
I wanted to focus on my time in the city, not give another 28-year-old American's thoughts on Israel / Gaza. I guess my point is I can evaluate my time in a city without having to inject political acknowledgements too. Maybe that's wrong, idk.
Hi Jack, glad we can be vulnerable together here, and glad that you’re listening. Of course there are many wonderful Israeli people, and Palestinian people too. I am also friends with both.
I do feel strongly about the need to acknowledge the ongoing atrocities being committed: mass starvation, targeted journalist murders, incitement to genocide.
Especially if you agree these international war crimes are being committed, writing about it seriously is not a political statement, it’s just being human.
As a matter of principle, let’s imagine you visited Berlin, Germany in 1941. A horrible time and place in history (in an architecturally beautiful city). Would you write only about the nightlife and tall fair-skinned “Aryan” race? I really really hope not.
I wasn’t expecting an in-depth analysis of the front lines, but I was disappointed about the lightheartedness and one-sidedness of your account. Sarona market and Gaza are less than 70km apart.
You don’t need to apologize—especially when you’re not an expert on Gaza. What’s needed isn’t more equivocation, it’s backbone. October 7th shouldn’t be used as a moral equalizer for what’s happening now. What we’re seeing in Gaza is the result of decades of indoctrination: children taught that Jews are subhuman, that Jews are evil, that Jews have no right to exist. This isn’t spontaneous—it’s the product of a system built on hate, reinforced by global silence and complicity.
The world has spent years enabling terror against Jews, dressing it up as “resistance” or “context.” If you want to understand what a modern genocide looks like, go read about Sudan. That’s not trending. That’s not romanticized. That’s just ignored. No Jews no news.
Oh, go on—be brave. Say the thing everyone’s dancing around: Israel’s just out here committing genocide, right? Totally obvious. I mean, who wouldn’t be convinced by the sight of all those starving, emaciated military-aged men—so frail, yet somehow lugging rifles in street clothes. Tragic, really. Almost too cinematic.
I love that you shared your experiences with us here, and while there isn't some moral law that you need to mention anything about it... you didn't talk to a single person about this? It's one of the defining events of this moment, even in the US, and it would have been worth it to investigate or push a little more.
I don't think there's systematic starvation happening like this anywhere else in the world right now, and it just feels tone deaf talking about the luxuries like nightclubs and gyms and VC dinners provided by the country that is systematically killing and displacing palestinians to take their 'real estate'.
Keep up the travel writing though! Most other places don't have such a moral hazard.
A simple websearch about ongoing famines in the world -- mainly due to civil wars -- will show you that gaza isn't in the top 10. What's happening is a great tragedy, but the idea that it's especially bad of all of the other ones currently happening this moment is a bit disrespectful.
I did not say famine I said "systematic starvation" where a group is preventing food from reaching people. In this case there are aid organizations trying to give food to Palestinians, but Israel is not allowing it to be reached.
But I even if there are larger cases around systematic starvation around the world -- my point still stands.
Big fan of your travel blog and of Tel Aviv, so I was psyched to read this post. Sounds like you had the prototypical experience! Israelis are a resilient bunch for sure; they have to be given the standard (unfortunately) is usually war.
Having spent time in the Tel Aviv startup scene, it blows me away that people who don't know if there'll be a tomorrow can be so optimistic as to create a startup. Stubbornness has its benefits 😊.
Thanks for keeping it real. I’ve been riding shotgun on your content since day one, and I gotta say—your posts are refreshingly apolitical, like a unicorn in a comment section war zone. Your take on Israel? Spot on. I’ve been there plenty, and you nailed it: the place, the people, the vibe—no filters, no fluff, just the good, the gritty, and the hummus.
It is a sad day when it becomes a brave thing to write about a positive travel experience, but here we are. I am guessing that you were aware that you would be criticized in the comments for appreciating a vibrant, beautiful city--and people. Thank you for doing so anyway.
Ha. Exactly my experience with Tel Aviv. :) Of course minus the crazy flight to Tel Aviv. But I had the red alert app go off while I was sitting in the plane on the tarmac for takeoff and rockets from Gaza were fired. That felt not so good...
The tech/VC network is really fun and so very close-knit. It's amazing how easy it is to meet people and talk about tech & investments. Especially when you have lunch at Claro - what a great restaurant.
There is no “war”. Israel is literally committing a genocide 40 miles from Tel Aviv. Some acknowledgement of this in your post would have been considerate.
Yep, textbook genocide—just the kind where the population mysteriously multiplies tenfold. Fun historical twist: Gaza used to be Egypt’s responsibility, but when Sinai was handed back, Egypt basically said, “Thanks, but we’ll pass on the beachfront fixer-upper.” And now, under this so-called genocide, Gaza’s population has exploded like it’s hosting a fertility convention. Brutal oppression with a booming birthrate—truly a masterclass in paradox
You must be one sick person, openly reveling in your inhumanity and total lack of knowledge of both history and present situation of Gaza and Palestine as a whole. Please go read a decent history book and grow a heart.
Gaza's population exploded bc Palestinians were displaced from other areas around the city and migrated to the city as refugees
Your sarcasm can’t cover for your lack of humanity to the total indifference at the killing of over 18,000 children, the bombing of whole cities reduced to rubble and the continuing starvation of 2 million people. Whatever helps you sleep better at night.
Do you know why the IDF needs a special unit called the ‘Legitimisation Cell’?
Weird as fuck, unsubscribed
if the zone of interest was a substack post lol
Dude, I’ve always liked your content. But I hate how you use this “war” as a running joke throughout this piece. I’m sure Israelis treat this like a minor inconvenience in their day-to-day, should you? Being as well-traveled as you are, I would have hoped you’d have the capacity to write about the world outside the self-centered perspective (your main focus was a fun tech neighborhood with bars, clubs, and how attractive the people are?) and at the very least mention the real problem elephant in the room before saying how you clearly don’t care.
Hey Ale,
I appreciate the thoughtful reply here (seriously).
For what it's worth. I believe one can visit a city, and write about their perspective on that visit, without having to include an acknowledgement/disclaimer on actions taken by the government of that country, when I have nothing new to add to a dialogue that you, me, and everyone else knows a lot about.
There are good people in Israel, some of them are my friends, and those individuals have nothing to do with the atrocities that you mentioned. What's going on in Gaza is obviously a tragedy. October 7 was too.
If I were to visit Tehran (which I'd like to do, I have a few Persian friends), I'd likely write a similar piece without acknowledging anything about their government, threats to Israel, etc. as well. There are enough other people opining on on everything else.
I wanted to focus on my time in the city, not give another 28-year-old American's thoughts on Israel / Gaza. I guess my point is I can evaluate my time in a city without having to inject political acknowledgements too. Maybe that's wrong, idk.
Hi Jack, glad we can be vulnerable together here, and glad that you’re listening. Of course there are many wonderful Israeli people, and Palestinian people too. I am also friends with both.
I do feel strongly about the need to acknowledge the ongoing atrocities being committed: mass starvation, targeted journalist murders, incitement to genocide.
Especially if you agree these international war crimes are being committed, writing about it seriously is not a political statement, it’s just being human.
As a matter of principle, let’s imagine you visited Berlin, Germany in 1941. A horrible time and place in history (in an architecturally beautiful city). Would you write only about the nightlife and tall fair-skinned “Aryan” race? I really really hope not.
I wasn’t expecting an in-depth analysis of the front lines, but I was disappointed about the lightheartedness and one-sidedness of your account. Sarona market and Gaza are less than 70km apart.
You don’t need to apologize—especially when you’re not an expert on Gaza. What’s needed isn’t more equivocation, it’s backbone. October 7th shouldn’t be used as a moral equalizer for what’s happening now. What we’re seeing in Gaza is the result of decades of indoctrination: children taught that Jews are subhuman, that Jews are evil, that Jews have no right to exist. This isn’t spontaneous—it’s the product of a system built on hate, reinforced by global silence and complicity.
The world has spent years enabling terror against Jews, dressing it up as “resistance” or “context.” If you want to understand what a modern genocide looks like, go read about Sudan. That’s not trending. That’s not romanticized. That’s just ignored. No Jews no news.
Yeah, an oddly tone deaf post…
Oh, go on—be brave. Say the thing everyone’s dancing around: Israel’s just out here committing genocide, right? Totally obvious. I mean, who wouldn’t be convinced by the sight of all those starving, emaciated military-aged men—so frail, yet somehow lugging rifles in street clothes. Tragic, really. Almost too cinematic.
Unsubscribed. Douche
We gonna miss you Mike..
Sadly, Israel is not having "war" right now. They are currently doing genocide on the people of Palestine.
Can you define the people of Palestine and when were they created?
FREE PALESTINE
Ctl+F "palestine" "gaza" "starving" "genocide", 0 results
I love that you shared your experiences with us here, and while there isn't some moral law that you need to mention anything about it... you didn't talk to a single person about this? It's one of the defining events of this moment, even in the US, and it would have been worth it to investigate or push a little more.
I don't think there's systematic starvation happening like this anywhere else in the world right now, and it just feels tone deaf talking about the luxuries like nightclubs and gyms and VC dinners provided by the country that is systematically killing and displacing palestinians to take their 'real estate'.
Keep up the travel writing though! Most other places don't have such a moral hazard.
A simple websearch about ongoing famines in the world -- mainly due to civil wars -- will show you that gaza isn't in the top 10. What's happening is a great tragedy, but the idea that it's especially bad of all of the other ones currently happening this moment is a bit disrespectful.
I did not say famine I said "systematic starvation" where a group is preventing food from reaching people. In this case there are aid organizations trying to give food to Palestinians, but Israel is not allowing it to be reached.
But I even if there are larger cases around systematic starvation around the world -- my point still stands.
Big fan of your travel blog and of Tel Aviv, so I was psyched to read this post. Sounds like you had the prototypical experience! Israelis are a resilient bunch for sure; they have to be given the standard (unfortunately) is usually war.
Having spent time in the Tel Aviv startup scene, it blows me away that people who don't know if there'll be a tomorrow can be so optimistic as to create a startup. Stubbornness has its benefits 😊.
Thanks for keeping it real. I’ve been riding shotgun on your content since day one, and I gotta say—your posts are refreshingly apolitical, like a unicorn in a comment section war zone. Your take on Israel? Spot on. I’ve been there plenty, and you nailed it: the place, the people, the vibe—no filters, no fluff, just the good, the gritty, and the hummus.
It is a sad day when it becomes a brave thing to write about a positive travel experience, but here we are. I am guessing that you were aware that you would be criticized in the comments for appreciating a vibrant, beautiful city--and people. Thank you for doing so anyway.
Good to have a Jack travel blog back on the feed
how much did they pay you to sell out and ruin your reputation?
Ha. Exactly my experience with Tel Aviv. :) Of course minus the crazy flight to Tel Aviv. But I had the red alert app go off while I was sitting in the plane on the tarmac for takeoff and rockets from Gaza were fired. That felt not so good...
The tech/VC network is really fun and so very close-knit. It's amazing how easy it is to meet people and talk about tech & investments. Especially when you have lunch at Claro - what a great restaurant.
Glad it was a good trip, shame about all the hassle with the logistics.
Hopefully one day the Israelis will be left in peace.
Love it! A very ‘this is Israel experience.’