Visit the wall between Israel and the West Bank: PHOTOS

From the Mediterranean coasts of Tel Aviv, Israel's tense geopolitical position is almost non-existent.

Tourists and locals sipping Goldstar, the ubiquitous black lager of Israel, as the waves come in and out. The children laugh and splash in the water. A group of teenagers play volleyball at sunset.

It looks like a much nicer version of the Jersey Shore: the sand is softer, the water is clearer and the beer tastes better.

After a two and a half hour drive east to the confines of Jerusalem, Israel looks quite different. In one part of the city: ancient ruins, a beautiful golden dome and a labyrinthine market dating back to the turn of the last millennium. In another part of the city: poverty and a huge and horrible wall.

Here is a common sight of the road in a part of Jerusalem, next to the West Bank:

The infamous wall that separates much of Israel's eastern border and the Palestinian-controlled West Bank is a constant reminder of the duality of life in this region of the Middle East of New Jersey: D & ## One side, prosperity; on the other, a much less comfortable reality.

During a recent visit to Jerusalem, I had my first look at this wall in person. And that gave me a valuable perspective that I brought home to the United States.