Egypt

Huge protests in early July 2013 lead the Army to remove President Morsi. Presidential elections were held in May 2014, ex Army Chief Sisi won overwhelming but very poor electoral turnout. Opposition to the Sisi government is growing, economically Egypt is suffering as the tourist trade has offered as a result of terrorism although through 2017 & 2018 tourism is recovering. Presidential elections were held in late March 2018 and President was re-elected as there is no effective opposition. The threat from terrorism remains high, a tourist bus was bombed on 29 Dec 2018 at Giza killing 4 people. Egypt is almost a police state so care must be taken to adhere all rules and respect customs. 

Israel

We currently advise against all travel to Israel in light of the conflict which broke out on 7th October 2023 as a result of attacks by Hamas. This conflict is likely to be prolonged and Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon are also involved with some missile attacks on Israel. IDF operation in Gaza continue, thh plight of civilains in the strip is desperate and as many as 30,000 people may have been killed since IDF operations against Hamas began. Israel has also caried targetted strikes in Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Iran, the latter is expected to retlaitate.

A stable modern democracy but with the constant threat of violence due to its relationship with the Gaza and the West Bankand neighbouring countires, principally Syria.  Tension is high in Jersualem following a number of sectarian stabbings in the last few years but tourists are rarely targetted. However, many young travellers visit both Israel and Jordan, both are friendly and very interesting countries and are highly recommmeded destinations - just pay attention to the news as the situation can change quickly, especially in Israel. Regional tensions between Iran and Israel are worsening as Iran increases its presence in Syria and its support to the radical Shia group Hezbollah. 

Iran was beginning to open up to trade and tourism following the successful conclusion of the nuclear energy talks under US President Obama and relations with the West improved.   But in May 2018 President Trump announced the US was pulling out of the nuclear deal and since then the rial has fallen in value and further US sanctions were imposes on 5 Nov 2018. The Rial has steadily been collapsing against the US $ causing a worsening economic situation.  A 50% rise in fuel prices has prompted more demonstrations in mid November 2019 as the economy continues to weaken. The killing of General Soliemani by the US in Iraq on 3 Jan 2020 resulted in a further deteroration of relations between Iran and the US. Iran will need to respond to the attack. His death may also weaken the Iranian regime as he was a very close ally of the Ayatollah. In 2022 there was an extensive period of street protests against the regime but once again the theotocracy has survived but has been further weakened. Relations with the west have furtther deteroiated due to Iran's military support to Russia in it's (Russia's) invasiion of Ukraine.  Travel Iran is NOT recommended in any capacity at the moment. A slightly more moderate president Masoud Pezeshkian was appointed after Raisi died in a helicopter crash but relations with the west are strained, largely due to the situation in and around Israel.