Middle East - tours in Israel focusing on 20th century history?

I was just wondering whether anybody knows of any tours focusing on 20th century history/politics and/or military history?

Pretty much all the tour companies focus on ancient history and Christian and Jewish sites/history, plus a few odds tours to Eilat.

Things I'd be potentially interestd in would include the Air Force Museum, maybe visiting the Knesset etc. I know you can do most of those things yourself, but joining a tour would probably be easier/cheaper.

Thanks in advance!

Have you considered hiring a guide?

Take a look at this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/middle-east/1312302-woman-traveling-alone-israel.html#post17990222) post.

Have you considered hiring a guide?

Take a look at this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/middle-east/1312302-woman-traveling-alone-israel.html#post17990222) post.

Thanks! I´d already dropped him a message, but he isn´t available during my stay. Hiring a private tour guide would be an option, but certainly not the most cost-effective option to pay $500+/day when travelling by myself. (If it were a small group/family it obviously would make much more sense...)

Are you only interested in Israel, or are you looking for learning options in Palestine and the Occupied Territories as well?

Are you only interested in Israel, or are you looking for learning options in Palestine and the Occupied Territories as well?

For practical reasons I guess it makes more sense to focus on Israel only. If there´s a tour that includes driving through the Palestinian areas in a bullet proof vehicle, I may consider it, but generally speaking I´d rather avoid it.

Based on your post you reallllly should go to them. They're not what you're imaging. Not going to get into a debate on if they're decent or not for the people but going through is generally safe and if it is not a good time to be in the territories the military will advise you when you get to the checkpoint. I've been a few times and never had a problem.

For practical reasons I guess it makes more sense to focus on Israel only. If there´s a tour that includes driving through the Palestinian areas in a bullet proof vehicle, I may consider it, but generally speaking I´d rather avoid it.

Are you only interested in Israel, or are you looking for learning options in Palestine and the Occupied Territories as well?
Just to clarify for the OP

Things to be considered: (Again, not getting into the politics of it - talking about the reality/practicality)
Tours of Israel's 20th century history and IDF tours would almost definitely includes Area C in the West Bank. The West Bank is divided into Area A, B, and C. Area C includes all the Jewish communities, and the regular highways. Area A, Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin, Jericho, etc. are controlled by the PA. Area B are villages, civilly maintained by the PA, but under Israeli security/military control. (Hebron being it's own case entirely.)
Jerusalem, all of it, including East Jerusalem (Old City, all Arab neighborhoods...) is part of "Israel-proper," and isn't considered the "West Bank" or part of "the territories." So tours would include Jerusalem no different than Tel Aviv.
Many tours will also include Area C a lot, but not Areas A or B. For tours in Area C, likely a bullet-proof bus would be used. Most Egged buses (as well as other Israeli bus companies) traveling into the West Bank use bullet-proof buses.
You may also see Hebron in some of these tours.

None of them will include Area A/B. You would need to book a Palestinian-operated tour to see them, though likely won't have a bullet-proof bus.

The only tours I've ever heard of that operate in both Israel, Area C, and Area A/B, are Christian-operated tours that go to Bethlehem.

Based on your post you reallllly should go to them. They're not what you're imaging. Not going to get into a debate on if they're decent or not for the people but going through is generally safe and if it is not a good time to be in the territories the military will advise you when you get to the checkpoint. I've been a few times and never had a problem.
Agreed that they're safe. If not, you'll hear in the news. For the past few years, they've been very quite, and there's a lot of cooperation between the IDF and PA security forces, as well as major Jewish and Palestinian community leaders ensuring quiet.