They go to the Kotel - and leave. And there are hardly any bar-mitzvas held there nowadays. The images of bus bombings and of shoot-outs between soldiers and Palestinians are damaging enough to tourism. But industry people say the US State Department's warning not to visit Israel at all has exacerbated the situation. That warning carries a lot of weight.
People regard it as a law or a prohibition - something official.
Drori notes that other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Holland, have relaxed their travel advisories to Israel, but the US advisory, issued in October and reiterated in January, is still in force. Sources in the prime minister's office say that the issue was raised during Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent visit to Israel. Powell said that Washington would review its policy. Foreign Ministry personnel and American Jewish and Christian activists have been lobbying to have the advisory rescinded, or at least softened - but so far, to no avail. Many are having serious marital problems.