Tel Aviv – The Left Wing Liberal Heart of Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel’s second largest city is best known as “the city that never sleeps” and the “party capital”. But the Israelis also like to call it “the Bubble” due to the liberal political, religious and cultural orientation of its population. The city is the left wing liberal capital of Israel and surprises the foreign visitors with its “hedonistic” and relaxed atmosphere which is strikingly different from the perception of Israel abroad as a tough and conservative country. But despite being the bastion of liberalism, Tel Aviv is distinctly Israeli although the difference between “the Bubble” and the Israeli capital of Jerusalem is more than obvious.
Located about 37 miles north-west from Jerusalem on the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv can be best described as a unique blend of Majorca, Wall Street and the Museum Street. Its thriving night life with bars and clubs operating until sunrise, beaches that compete with the world’s most desired destinations, a wealth of museums and cultural sites, and of course, the city’s liberal spirit attract over 2.5 million visitors every year. Here, you will feel like in a western metropolis yet experience the Israel at its best, free of religion and politics. Many Tel Avivians, though very proud of their Jewish heritage have lived, studied and travelled abroad more often than in other parts of Israel. They feel more home in London and New York than in Jerusalem which they visit rarely as they consider it too conservative and kind of boring. However, even the most secular Tel Avivians maintain close family ties and generally have more children than their peers in Europe.
People in Tel Aviv might be left wing liberals at heart but in reality, most of them do not care about politics. Here, you will not experience any of the major issues that mark Israel such as Zionism, Palestinians and the Middle East instability. From time to time, you will probably even forget that you are in Israel’s business, cultural and entertainment hub. Unlike in Jerusalem, you will not find a fine kosher restaurant easily in Tel Aviv. Instead, you will be able to enjoy a variety of world-class restaurants offering international dishes. There are over 100 sushi restaurants, while the Italian Ministry of Agriculture proclaimed an Italian restaurant in the city as the finest one outside Italy.
Tel Aviv has it all – the weather, breathtaking beaches, world-class restaurants, must-see cultural attractions, great night clubs and parties, and the most liberal population in Israel. Despite that, it is also the centre of everything Israeli making it an ideal destination for both young and old, families and couples, “party animals” and holidaymakers who simply want to enjoy the Mediterranean sea and forget about their everyday worries for a few days. It is always a good time to visit the left wing liberal heart of Israel but it is worth to remember that the August is most crowded although the night life is unforgettable.