A week of sightseeing in Israel was cut short for American tourists when the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem instructed them to evacuate to Egypt due to retaliatory missile strikes from Iran in what is now referred to as the Israel-Iran conflict. Bryant’s own senior Ottis Harris was among these tourists.
“The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness – including knowing the location of the nearest shelter in the event of a red alert as security incidents, such as mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any warning,” the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem said in a security alert issued March 2. “The security environment is complex and can change quickly.”
The tour group of approximately 150, Blue Diamond Travel, sponsored by former Arkansas governor and current U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, was split into groups, one of which was led by David Huckabee, the son of the ambassador.
The original plan was for the group to stay at the Sea of Galilee until March 2 and leave from Tel Aviv early the following morning. Plans changed when tourists were informed at lunch Feb. 27 that they would have to evacuate and were given half an hour to pack up their belongings before loading onto buses.
“[David Huckabee] was like, ‘Okay, we have word from the embassy. We got to get out of here,’” Harris said. “After that, we stopped like twice to get a bathroom break and snack, and then it was just bus bus bus bus bus.”
The group endured hours of waiting and bus rides as they crossed over into Egypt to Cairo.
“In Egypt, the scariest part [was] you’re on a bus with the ambassador’s son, brother-in-law and great-nephew,” Harris said. “If there’s a bus you’re going to kidnap and torture, it’s that bus. We were the most kidnappable bus in that whole country.”
After flying to Washington from Egypt, tourists were in charge of organizing their own transportation home. Being the first time the tourists had Wi-Fi, they were able to see what they had been fleeing.
“On Saturday we saw the video of Jerusalem, and it was crazy because it was like, ‘We were just there,’” Harris said.
Since returning home, Harris has been interviewed by KARK and asked to regale his experiences time and time again.
“I’ve told the story like at least 50 times… It would already be like a very noteworthy trip, and then a war started,” Harris said. “I don’t think I can escape being Israel-boy.”
