European and Russian travel agents who participated in a conference at a Dead Sea hotel this month said that the world media are exaggerating the severity of the security situation in Israel. Some of the close to 150 agents from England, Holland, Belgium, Scandinavia, Russia, Germany, and elsewhere said that their very presence in Israel is the best proof that there is no problem in visiting Israel. One said that he had brought over 1,500 tourists to Israel since the beginning of the violence. \"If the Tourism Ministry strengthens its efforts in \'pushing\' Israel,\" said another, \"it will find that many people are willing to visit Israel specifically at these times.\"