scorecardRand Paul Just Spent A Week In Israel, And There's A Reason He Nicknamed His Trip 'THE PLAGUE TOUR'
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Rand Paul Just Spent A Week In Israel, And There's A Reason He Nicknamed His Trip 'THE PLAGUE TOUR'

Paul starts his trip with a rainy late-night visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall.

Rand Paul Just Spent A Week In Israel, And There's A Reason He Nicknamed His Trip 'THE PLAGUE TOUR'

Israeli reporters crowd around Paul as he meets with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch.

Israeli reporters crowd around Paul as he meets with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch.

Despite the rain and late hour, pilgrims gather to pray at the Wall, one of the most sacred sites of the Jewish faith.

Despite the rain and late hour, pilgrims gather to pray at the Wall, one of the most sacred sites of the Jewish faith.

Paul and his youngest son Robert, 13, take a moment at the Wall.

Paul and his youngest son Robert, 13, take a moment at the Wall.

Paul spent his first full day in Jerusalem meeting with dignitaries. Here, he talks with rising Israeli political star Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party.

Paul spent his first full day in Jerusalem meeting with dignitaries. Here, he talks with rising Israeli political star Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party.

And here he is with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Paul wouldn't characterize their conversation, but he did say that Netanyahu drew one of his famous Iranian nuclear bomb diagrams.

And here he is with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Paul wouldn

Another stormy day in Jerusalem. A wet view of the city from the Mount of Olives.

Another stormy day in Jerusalem. A wet view of the city from the Mount of Olives.

Paul's bus arrives at the Allenby, or King Hussein Bridge, to cross from the West Bank into Jordan.

Paul

Paul meets with the U.S. Ambassador to Jordan and members of the Jordanian Senate.

Paul meets with the U.S. Ambassador to Jordan and members of the Jordanian Senate.

Storm clouds gather over the border crossing.

Storm clouds gather over the border crossing.

Ominous signs of future flooding in the West Bank.

Ominous signs of future flooding in the West Bank.

The group stops for camel rides at a gas station in the West Bank.

The group stops for camel rides at a gas station in the West Bank.

Paul's wife Kelley is game for a camel ride.

Paul

The Senator is not.

The Senator is not.

The Jordan River starts to overflow as Paul's bus heads north to the Sea of Galilee.

The Jordan River starts to overflow as Paul

The group finally makes it to the Sea of Galilee.

The group finally makes it to the Sea of Galilee.

Paul bundles up for a tour of the ruins at Capernaum. The town, on the northern shore of Galilee, is thought to have been the center of Jesus' public ministry and the home of the Apostle Peter.

Paul bundles up for a tour of the ruins at Capernaum. The town, on the northern shore of Galilee, is thought to have been the center of Jesus

The ruins of Capernaum after the storm.

The ruins of Capernaum after the storm.

A nun from South Korea arrives at Capernaum well-prepared.

A nun from South Korea arrives at Capernaum well-prepared.

Taking cover from the rain at Capernaum, Pastor Robert McCoy, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., delivers an impromptu spiritual message.

Taking cover from the rain at Capernaum, Pastor Robert McCoy, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., delivers an impromptu spiritual message.

Kim Bengard, a prominent social conservative activist, shields herself from the cold.

Kim Bengard, a prominent social conservative activist, shields herself from the cold.

But David Lane doesn't seem bothered.

But David Lane doesn

Paul and his group set sail on the Sea of Galilee.

Paul and his group set sail on the Sea of Galilee.

Paul and South Carolina GOP Chair Chad Connelly brave the cold on the boat deck.

Paul and South Carolina GOP Chair Chad Connelly brave the cold on the boat deck.

"We sailed on the Sea of Galilee, and we saw what we think Jesus talked about with these storms that just popped up," Paul told reporters after the trip.

"We sailed on the Sea of Galilee, and we saw what we think Jesus talked about with these storms that just popped up," Paul told reporters after the trip.

A double rainbow over the Sea of Galilee. Paul said he hopes it was an "omen that my trip here will bring fruit."

A double rainbow over the Sea of Galilee. Paul said he hopes it was an "omen that my trip here will bring fruit."

Waves crash along the ruins of a Roman aqueduct in Caesarea, an ancient Mediterranean town where Jesus' Apostles first preached to the Gentiles.

Waves crash along the ruins of a Roman aqueduct in Caesarea, an ancient Mediterranean town where Jesus

The view of the Valley of Armageddon. According to the Book of Revelation, the valley will be the site of a bloody battle during end times.

The view of the Valley of Armageddon. According to the Book of Revelation, the valley will be the site of a bloody battle during end times.

The Rand Paul tour bus winds its way up to the Golan Heights, the disputed territory along Israel's Syrian border.

The Rand Paul tour bus winds its way up to the Golan Heights, the disputed territory along Israel

The view into Syria from the Golan Heights.

The view into Syria from the Golan Heights.

The Pauls cozy up to take in the view.

The Pauls cozy up to take in the view.

Temperatures finally start to heat up as Paul's tour heads into the Judaean Desert to visit Masada, an ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea.

Temperatures finally start to heat up as Paul

Paul and his security guard look out from the top of Masada.

Paul and his security guard look out from the top of Masada.

Iowa GOP Chair A.J. Spiker smiles for the camera.

Iowa GOP Chair A.J. Spiker smiles for the camera.

Paul takes a moment to bask in the desert heat.

Paul takes a moment to bask in the desert heat.

Paul's tour heads down to the Dead Sea.

Paul

Washington Times political reporter Ralph Hallow gets in the spirit in a Dead Sea gift shop.

Washington Times political reporter Ralph Hallow gets in the spirit in a Dead Sea gift shop.

Paul waits for his wife Kelley to take a float in the Dead Sea.

Paul waits for his wife Kelley to take a float in the Dead Sea.

Paul covers himself in the mineral-rich Dead Sea mud before floating in the salty waters.

Paul covers himself in the mineral-rich Dead Sea mud before floating in the salty waters.

Paul poses for a more dignified shot before heading back to Jerusalem.

Paul poses for a more dignified shot before heading back to Jerusalem.

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