re: So my parents are taking a church trip to Israel in August

I traveled to Israel for business a few years back under a similar climate. At the time, the conflict was contained in the Gaza area. I traveled a great part of the country and it was all business as usual. No indication of fighting or conflict outside of that well defined zone despite what our US news reports were stating.

The trip to Jerusalem is amazing and one that your parents will never forget. It is a very powerful place shared by persons of different religions. My best advice to them is to respect the culture of the Jews and Arabs while there and avoid theological arguments. When I was there, there were groups of American Christians attacking the beliefs of the locals in a condescending way.

Advise them to enjoy the education and power of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, leave a written prayer in the Western Wall, travel the route of the Via Delarosa. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.