Madonna appears in Israeli tourism video

The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has reportedly convinced the pop star Madonna to appear in a video informing travellers that the country is safe to visit. According to The Independent newspaper, the video will be shown by the ministry at this week’s World Travel Market in London following Ms Ciccone’s conversion to the Kaballah faith and the resulting “pilgrimage” to the country a couple of months back. In the video, she reportedly says: “I was a bit hesitant to come here after seeing so many news reports about terrorist attacks, and reading countless travel reports about how dangerous it is to be here if you are an American. I realise that is now more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York, and I feel very safe and welcome.” The Independent goes on to quote the Jewish Chronicle as saying: “I imagine Madonna will be telling us Israel is safe – as long as you have your own posse of bodyguards.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd