Hi Gil,
I went to Israel twice in my lifetime, once when I was 4 or 5, and most recently for my Bar Mitzvah in......1999 I think. You could walk freely through the old city back then......
Don't get the wrong impression, there were many amazing place, eg Timna, Eilat, those caves in Northern Israel, the shuuk etc... BUt, mount Carmel was one of the most relaxed and pleasant regions I visited.
One more thing.....Do you know where Givat Olga is?