PIONEER ISRAEL TRIP 2014 Pre-Trip Prep Info

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B’NAI B’RITH CAMPS PIONEER ISRAEL TRIP 2014 Pre-Trip Prep Info

I. Passport & Visa Information…………………….. 2

II. Group Flights & Travel…………………………….. 3 General Group Flight Details Meeting the Group at the Airport Group Flight In-Country Arrival Procedures Returning Back to North America Luggage Rules

III. Communications on the Trip………………….. 5 Renting a Cell Phone How and When to Call Email and Internet Access Emergency Contact Information

IV. Money on the Trip……………………………..….. 7 Sample Packing List Laundry on the Trip Bringing Extra Spending Money About Local Currencies

V. Packing for the Trip………………………………. 8 Luggage Advice Packing Advice

VI. Optional Host Family Weekend…………….11 Pick-Up & Drop-Off Logistics Host Family Permission Form Supervised Program Alternative

VII. Medical Insurance………………………….….… 11

VIII. General Pre-Trip Tips………………………….. 12

IX. Standards of Conduct……………………………. 14

X. Program Itinerary…….……………………………. 15

Appendix I. Home Hospitality Form…………… 22

Appendix II. Why Israel?...... 23

Background Information for Travelers……….27

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Shalom from Jerusalem,

We are eagerly anticipating your arrival to Israel this summer. In just a short time you will board the plane for one of the most incredible experiences of your life. Our journey together will span over 3,000 years of our collective history. We will encounter the Bible, the birthplace of the Jewish people and other great monotheistic religions, and some of the most impressive archeology in the world. We will also visit the very places that our ancestors dreamed about for thousands of years. We will explore Israel from the mountains to the valleys and from the deserts to the vineyards. We will swim in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Kinneret and we will float at the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea. Together, we will learn about the many unique things that make Israel such a vibrant, multicultural, and modern nation.

As you embark on your travels to Israel, it is our hope that you will uncover your own unique place within this beautiful mosaic. It is up to you to find a way to take this experience home with you in order to make your own special impact on your family, friends, community and summer camp.

- The Routes Travel Team www.routestravel.com

I. PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION Please check today to make sure that you know where your passport is and that it is not expired or about to expire. Your passport must be valid for at least six months following the date you arrive in Israel. Make sure today that your passport does not expire before January 2015. If your passport expires within six months of your arrival date in Israel, you will not be granted entry. So, please start the renewal process today. Info about ordering a passport can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

If you are traveling to Israel on a USA, Canadian, or European Union member country passport, you do not need a visa to enter Israel or Poland. If you are traveling on a passport from another country you may need a visa to enter Israel or Poland. If you will be traveling to Israel or Poland on a United States Travel Document (i.e. special passport for non-citizens), you will need a visa to enter Israel. Our office is able to provide you with an official ticketing confirmation letter to assist with the issuing of any required visas or passport extensions.

Please remember that the name you used to register must match exactly the spelling in your passport. If you registered with a nickname your ticket will be printed using that name, and you may be denied boarding. Please take a moment to make sure that your registration account lists your name exactly as it appears in your passport.

II. GROUP FLIGHTS & TRAVEL GENERAL GROUP FLIGHT DETAILS Our flight to Israel is from Chicago (ORD) for Beber Campers and from JFK Airport for Perlman Campers, via Warsaw, to Israel; and returning from Israel via Warsaw to Chicago/ JFK. The flights are on LOT Airlines. Exact flight details are as follows:

32 Pax – Beber Campers Outbound - Depart from Chicago (ORD) to Warsaw (WAW) - LO 004 13JUL ORDWAW 2100 1255 +1 (Spend time in Poland, below you will find the itinerary) - Depart from Krakow Airport to Warsaw Airport - LO 3922 17JUL KRKWAW 2100 2150 - Depart from Warsaw Airport to Israel - LO 151 17JUL WAWTLV 2255 0350 +1

Inbound - Depart from Israel to Warsaw - LO 152 03AUG TLVWAW 0600 0855 - Depart from Warsaw Airport to Chicago (ORD) - LO 003 03AUG WAWORD 16:30 1905

14 Pax – Perlman Campers Outbound - Depart from JFK Airport to Warsaw - LO 027 13JUL JFKWAW 2255 1300 +1 (Spend time Poland, below you will find the itinerary) - Depart from Krakow Airport to Warsaw Airport - LO 3922 17JUL KRKWAW 2100 2150 - Depart from Warsaw Airport to Israel - LO 151 17JUL WAWTLV 2255 0350 +1

Inbound - Depart from Israel to Warsaw - LO 152 03AUG TLVWAW 0600 0855 - Depart from Warsaw Airport to JFK - LO 026 03AUG WAWJFK 1735 2100

All tickets are issued electronically, and staff will have a copy of your ticket at the airport. On the day of departure, Perlman Campers- we will be gathering at JFK Airport’s Terminal #1 to check-in as a group at the LOT counter. After check-in, there will be some free time to buy snacks in the JFK Terminal prior to boarding the plane. Beber Campers- we will be gathering at Chicago Airport, Terminal #5 to check-in as a group at the LOT counter.

GROUP FLIGHT IN-COUNTRY ARRIVAL PROCEDURES Poland- Once we arrive in Poland, we will make our way together to the passport control area and then reform as a group in Warsaw Airport’s baggage claim hall immediately after your passport has been stamped. Within the baggage claim area there will be time to use the restrooms, use an ATM card to withdraw Zlotys. Under no circumstances should participants wander beyond the baggage claim area without being escorted by an official member of the Pioneer Israel Trip staff team. Upon leaving baggage claim, we will make our way to a private bus loading zone.

Israel- Once we arrive in Israel, we will make our way together to the passport control area and then reform as a group in Ben Gurion Airport’s baggage claim hall immediately after your passport has been stamped. Our Israel staff will have signs and will be wearing special badges to help you identify them. Within the baggage claim area there will be time to use the restrooms, use an ATM card to withdraw Shekels, there will be a Money Changer outside next to the Bus. Under no circumstances should participants wander beyond the baggage claim area without being escorted by an official member of the Pioneer Israel Trip staff team. Upon leaving baggage claim, we will make our way to a private bus loading zone where pre-ordered rental cell phones will be distributed. This is a great time to call home and check in with family. LUGGAGE RULES Below are the basic luggage rules LOT Airlines. When deciding what kind of luggage to bring with you on the program, keep in mind that you will need to load your luggage on/off the bus on your own…and schlep it to your hotel room. So, please try to keep it manageable, and be sure to bring luggage on wheels if at all possible. You may not bring more than one carry-on bag and one larger checked bag. Be sure to pack at least one change of clothing, toiletries and any prescription medicine in your carry-on bag just in case your checked luggage is delayed. Finally, before packing, please review the updated restrictions listed by the TSA: www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

The following are the LOT luggage allowances:

• Checked Luggage: One checked bag that does not exceed 50 pounds and is no more than 62 inches (length + width + height) • Carry-on Luggage: One cabin bag at no more than 17 pounds

AIRLINE MEALS & SEATING All airline meals are pre-reserved as kosher. If you would like to request a special meal (vegetarian, etc.), please be sure this is noted as part of your registration. Finally, we have booked blocks of seats on our group flights, and specific seating requests can only be made at the airport on departure day.

III. COMMUNICATIONS ON THE TRIP http://www.israelphones.com/beber-perlman.htm

RENTING A CELL PHONE A discounted group cell phone rental service is available to all participants through our partner, IsraelPhones. We highly recommend signing up for a cell phone rental in advance of the trip as a way to stay in touch on the road. Also, since our trip staff will have access to the cell phone numbers, it is an important back-up communication tool.

The service includes:

• FREE Incoming Calls and Incoming Text Messages: In Israel, from anywhere in the world. • Toll-Free Customer Service: IsraelPhones provides you with toll-free local Customer Service numbers in the USA and Israel. • FREE Group delivery for groups of 10 or more.

There are several rate options for you to choose from: Rates are in USD, not including 18% VAT.

OPTION 1: Unlimited Talk Plans: Talk & Text Data Included Price per day $2.50 $4.00 Calls in Israel, to the USA and Canada + + Texting in Israel + + Unlimited Data with any smartphone - +

All unlimited plans have a 21 day minimum requirement. SIM card only rentals are FREE. Handest retnals Text messages to international destinations are priced at 29.9¢ each.

OPTION 2: Pay-as-you-go: $1 per day Calls within your cellular network to landlines in Israel 11.9¢/minute Calls outside your cellular network in Israel 19.9¢/minute Calls to the USA & Canada 29.9¢/minute Text messages (In network/Out of network in Israel/International destinations) 11.9¢/19.9¢/39.9¢

For other countries not mentioned, please refer to the website or call Customer Service Discount Data Package: for your unlocked smartphone – $1.50/day for unlimited data

SIM card only rentals are FREE. Handset rentals carry a 50 cent per day rental fee.

Note: The following applies to all plans. Directory assistance and premium services are not included. Optional insurance is 25¢ per day with a phone rental.

Additional Services When you place your order at IsraelPhones, you can also register for the following services: • High Speed USB Modem for your laptop: Unlimited Access for only $5 a day

• Local Number Offer: Stay in touch with a local North American phone number for only a $10 line fee and 14.9¢/minute (other countries besides US and Canada are available)

To order your phone, please complete the online order form at: http://www.israelphones.com/beber-perlman.htm The Customer Service Representatives are waiting to help you and can be reached by phone at 1- 866-897-9393, or via email at [email protected]

Cell Phone Use as a Privilege – Not a Right Pioneer Israel Trip program staff regards cell phone use on the program as a privilege. Participants will NOT be allowed to use their phones during group programming time. Participants must exercise discretion when using the phones (i.e. respect sleeping roommates, etc.). If necessary, program staff reserves the right to suspend or even terminate a cell phone rental if usage privileges are abused.

NOTE: Teens are also permitted to bring their tablets or cell phones with international coverage on the trip in place of renting a cell phone through IsraelPhones. Just keep in mind that these phones carry per minute fees for incoming calls while all incoming calls are free through our arrangement with IsraelPhones. If you chose to bring a personal phone, the program is not responsible for damage or lost devices, and we must get a record of your personal phone number in advance.

HOW AND WHEN TO CALL

For parents and friends who wish to contact a participant during the trip, keep in mind that Israel is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Since our groups usually return to the hotel around 8:00pm each evening, the best time to call a hotel in Israel is between 1pm-4pm EST. Hotel phone numbers are included as part of the travel itinerary. However, not every hotel has a full service reception area, and service can be unreliable. If you want to make sure that your teen is reachable abroad, a cell phone rental is by the most practical solution. Calling from the US: To call Israel from North America, dial +972 and then the number in Israel (omitting the initial zero).

For Example: calling Jess’ mobile from outside of Israel: +-972-548371915; when calling within Israel, omit the country code and use the initial zero. For example: calling Jess’ mobile within Israel: 0548371915.

Calling the US from Israel: It's easy: AT&T, MCI and Sprint all have toll-free access numbers in Israel. From a public phone, check the instruction card (which will tell you to dial 012, 013 or 014 etc. overseas) then continue with 1 for the United States, the area code and phone #.

Calling Cards: Public phones in Israel operate with calling cards purchasable from your hotel, post office, kiosks and newsstands throughout the country.

EMAIL & INTERNET ACCESS

Some of the hotels, kibbutzim, and guest houses that we stay at will have internet stations and WIFI available which participants are welcome to use – sometimes for an additional fee. We strongly

suggest not bringing a laptop on the program or any expensive communication devices as the risk of theft or damage is very high.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION The emergency contact for Beber Camp is Becky Altman 847-682-2796. For Perlman Camp the emergency contact is Rachel 202-747-4922. The emergency numbers can be used 24 hours and are ONLY meant for use in the event of a true emergency. Our staff in Israel will be very busy focusing on contributing to the experience of the teens, and we want to keep them off of the phone as much as possible. To help alleviate any confusion about what is or is not an emergency, we have provided a few examples below:

Emergency Situations • Family health emergency which requires immediate booking of a return flight home • Urgent medical or safety situation

Non-Emergency Situations • Concerns about child’s fatigue or social adjustment • Request for children to be featured in online photos • General security concerns (email updates will be sent in such scenarios)

IV. MONEY ON THE TRIP

BRINGING EXTRA SPENDING MONEY The group flight, sleeping accommodations, all meals, in-country transportation, basic health insurance, laundry and all program activities are covered by the core program fees. The only spending that is your responsibility will be snacks, bottled water (although tap water is safe), souvenirs, gifts, and internet usage. We estimate that $100-$150/week is more than sufficient to cover all such expenses. ATM / Credit Cards If you choose to use your personal ATM card or credit card, please keep in mind the following advice:

- If your ATM card has a Visa, MasterCard, Star, Cirrus, or Maestro logo imprint, there should not be problem withdrawing money. PLUS cards will not work in Israel. Other ATM network cards may work, but we encourage you to check with your local bank if you have any doubts. Some participants have experienced difficulty withdrawing money from savings accounts. - We strongly recommend that ATM cards be linked to checking accounts only to prevent any potential difficulties in Israel. - Major credit cards like VISA and MasterCard are also accepted throughout Israel. Holders of these credit cards may withdraw funds at the foreign currency counters of affiliated banks or at certain ATMs (expect high fees). Cash Money It is not advisable to use USA Dollars for purchases in Israel or Poland. Plan to exchange some of your US Cash to local currency at the airport upon arrival in Israel. There will be 2 or 3 opportunities to exchange funds during the trip itself.

Traveler’s Checks & Israel Bonds Participants should NOT travel with traveler’s checks or Israeli bonds. Since our staff collects participant passports at the start of the program. It is very difficult to retrieve them in order to cash traveler’s checks. For the same reason, parents should not send expect to be able to send money orders to Israel (e.g. Western Union) if more money is needed.

ABOUT LOCAL CURRENCIES In Israel, the local currency is the New Israeli Shekel. Each shekel is worth about 27 United States cents. Shekel coins come in units of 1 (~29 cents), 5 (~$1.44), and 10 (~$2.87) as well as much smaller coin denominations. Shekel bills come in units of 20 (~$5.74), 50 (~$14.36), and 100 (~$28.72) denominations. One important thing to keep in mind is that coins in Israel come in much high values than what we are used to in North America. Practically speaking, this means you need to watch your coins carefully.

Although each Israeli shekel is nominally worth less than each US dollar, what you can buy with the shekels is a different matter altogether. As a general rule, things in Israel cost about the same as things in North America. Fresh produce tends to cost a little less than prices in North America and restaurant food tends to cost a little more. Finally, it’s worth noting that the values of foreign currencies are constantly changing, and it’s a good idea to check the values again right before your trip to get the most up-to-date information.

V. PACKING FOR THE TRIP

LUGGAGE ADVICE Packing for a traveling based program can be a challenge. On the one hand, you do not want to pack too many things or else you will get weighed down schlepping your heavy luggage on/off the bus and to/from your hotel room. On the other hand, we only schedule laundry twice during the trip, so you definitely do not want to pack too little either. We recommend that you bring one main piece of luggage (duffel bags and rolling suitcases work best) and one full size carry-on bag. Be sure to bring at least one change of clothes, toiletries, and any prescription medicine in your carry-on bag in the unlikely event that your checked luggage gets delayed. Finally, make sure to attach luggage tag labels with your name, address and home telephone number to each piece of luggage that you bring on the program. It is also a smart idea to attach some kind of easy identifier such as a colored ribbon to your checked luggage as well.

PACKING ADVICE When deciding what to bring on the trip, the most important thing to keep in mind is the weather. In Israel during the summer, temperatures range from hot to hotter. Daytime temperatures range from the 80’s to the 100’s – and is especially hot when we travel in the desert regions. The good news is that in most areas of Israel the heat is dry – there is very little humidity. So the higher temperatures may feel more comfortable than what you are used to at home. The other good news is that the chance for rain in Israel during the summer is practically zero percent. Finally, in Israel, the evenings tend to get chilly quickly – frequently into the 50’s. With this in mind, here are some practical packing tips to consider: • The clothing that you pack should be light weight and comfortable in hot temperatures

• Whenever we plan to be outside for an extended period of time, participants will be required to have a hat, a shirt with sleeves, sunscreen, and water. Over exposure to the hot Middle Eastern sun can cause heatstroke, dehydration, and sunburns. So this rule is an important one and strictly enforced.

• Because the evenings turn cool quickly, and we will not always be able to return to the hotel to change before an evening activity, it’s important to always bring a day-pack with you on the bus with a windbreaker, long-sleeved shirt, or light sweater.

• Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes. We will be doing a lot of walking, and having comfortable shoes will go a long way. Flip flops are never a good idea when we are on the move, and while athletic sandals like Tevas or Chacos are fine most days, they are not appropriate for days when we have hikes/nature walks on the itinerary. Finally, it is not necessary to bring hiking boots with you. Comfortable walking shoes or very light weight hiking shoes are more than sufficient for any hiking that we do on the program.

• We will be visiting some religious sites such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem and Tzfat in the Galilee where "modest" clothing is more appropriate. As long as your shoulders, knees, (and midriff) are covered at these sites, you will be fine.

• Finally, to create a more special Shabbat atmosphere, it is tradition to wear clothing on Friday nights and Saturday days that is nicer than what we wear the rest of the week. Of course, Israel is a casual country, so we are talking about nothing more than “casual dressy” clothing.

SAMPLE PACKING LIST What we recommend • 10-12 t-shirts

• 5 pairs of shorts • 2 pairs of jeans or khakis

• 12 pairs of underwear & socks • 2 long sleeve shirts • Windbreaker or light sweater/sweatshirt

• 2-3 bathing suits • 1 beach towel

• 1-2 nicer outfits for Shabbat and special occasions • 1 pair of sneakers for walking and hiking 1 pair of water shoes or athletic sandals for water hikes (or sneakers if you do not mind getting them wet)

• 1-2 hats for protection from the sun • Sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) • Toiletry bag • Soap, shampoo & conditioner (available at most hotels, but best to have a back-up) • Flashlight • Kippah for Shabbat • Photocopy of passport (inside cover page with photo & passport numbers) • Extra copy of any prescriptions in case medicine is lost during trip

What we suggest • Sunglasses • Travel pouch for carrying passport copy, wallet, etc. when we are on the move

• Bug spray • Small bottle of Woolite and stain remover for personal washing of clothes in between scheduled laundry days

• Frisbees, cards, etc. • Camera*

• MP3 player* • Camelback water carrying device (or similar)

• Travel journal • Various sized zip lock bags for holding valuables on water hikes or in wet clothing • Electric converter & adapter for anything that needs to be plugged in

What we do not recommend • Linens and pillows • Luggage that is not easily carried

• Expensive jewelry or other valuables

• Heavy backpack • Heavy hiking boots

• Laptop or expensive electronics

*While we encourage you to bring an MP3 player and basic digital camera, please remember to bring appropriate electricity converting devices so that you do not “fry” your devices. Also please pay special attention to keeping such valuable items in a safe place at all times. Pioneer Israel Trip and its tour providing partners are not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Participants are responsible for their possessions and valuables at all times.

LAUNDRY ON THE TRIP A special laundry service will be pre-scheduled twice during the trip. Participants will be given a laundry bag to fill, and your cleaned clothing will be returned in those same bags. We encourage participants to pair up as a room when doing laundry so that whites and colors are combined in separate loads. Finally, participants should be sure to label clothing in advance that will be sent to the laundry service. Pioneer Israel Trip and its tour providing partners are not responsible for any clothing lost or damaged by the laundry service.

VI. OPTIONAL HOST FAMILY WEEKEND

PICK-UP / DROP-OFF LOGISTICS The middle Shabbat in Israel is available optionally as a “Home Hospitality Weekend” for those who wish. This is the perfect time to visit with relatives or friends of your family while you are in Israel. The Host Family Weekend starts on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday morning with pick- up/drop-off points in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Tentative timing for the pick-up/drop-offs is as follows:

Pick-up/Drop-off locations: Thursday, July 24/ Drop-off with host families Jerusalem @ 5:00pm in parking lot of the Israel Museum Tel Aviv @ 7:00pm in the Reading Terminal Bus station next to the parking lot (next to Tel Aviv Namal)

Sunday, July 27 / Pick-up from host families Tel Aviv @ 9:15am in the Reading Terminal Bus station next to the parking lot (next to Tel Aviv Namal) Jerusalem @ 10:15am in parking lot of the Israel Museum

HOST FAMILY PERMISSION FORM In order to take advantage of the Home Hospitality Weekend, parents must submit a signed release form included at the back of this manual. As part of the form, you will be asked to provide us with the name / phone number of the person(s) responsible for pick-up on Thursday evening and drop-off on Sunday morning. This person must be at least 21 years of age and must carry a form of identification. No participant will be allowed to leave for the Home Hospitality Weekend on public transportation – participants must be picked up.

Parents are responsible for arranging their own Home Hospitality Weekend plans and for communicating all pick-up and drop-off instructions. If your Host Family Weekend plans change, we ask you to send us an updated permission form with the new details. Finally, please note that all Pioneer Israel Trip rules apply during the Home Hospitality Weekend.

SUPERVISED PROGRAM ALTERNATIVE For those teens not taking part in the Host Family Weekend a fully programmed weekend has been planned based at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel outside of Jerusalem.

VII. MEDICAL INSURANCE

Pioneer Israel Trip program fees include basic medical insurance that covers treatment and medication of any non-pre-existing medical conditions. What this means is that the policy covers treatment for issues like a stomach bug, a broken limb, or dehydration without any out-of-pocket expenses or paperwork. The policy does not cover any medical conditions for which a participant is already being treated for or for which treatment has been received in the past. This exclusion rule also applies to any psychological care. For this reason, participants are required to come on the program with their own comprehensive medical insurance policy which includes coverage for short term travel abroad and emergency medical evacuation to their home States. In the event that a

participant needs to be treated for a pre-existing condition during the program, the parents of the participant will be solely responsible for any associated costs.

VIII. GENERAL PRE-TRIP TIPS

ELECTRICAL CURRENT The electrical current in Israel is 220 volts, which is twice the voltage used in North America. The electrical plugs also are different, with two rounded prongs that are separated slightly further apart than their two North American flattened counterparts. Therefore, you will need a voltage converter if you are bringing electronic or electrical items (unless they have a built-in one) as well as an adapter for plugging in your items. If you are unsure of which plugs to purchase, check with your local electronics or travel store.

FREE TIME The Pioneer Israel Trip program is relatively short, and you will find that each day is jam-packed with must-see's and must-do's. Typically, free time during the day is limited and is allowed only in certain areas that are deemed safe. In Israel, many of the hotels that we stay at are located on kibbutz campuses, and participants will often have free time in the evenings on the campus. If you have family or friends that you would like to have visit you during the program, the best times for visits are on non-scheduled evening at the hotel. Saturday afternoons during free time hours is also an appropriate time for a visit. Please coordinate any such visit with your trip staff leaders in advance. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to leave the group with friends or families except during the Home Hospitality Weekend. If you need extra time to visit family and friends in Israel, you should consider extending your plane ticket!

KASHRUT & SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS All meals provided by the program in Israel, including those aboard the flights to and from Israel, are kosher as certified under the supervision of Israel’s official local Rabbinates. People with special dietary situations (i.e. lactose intolerance, vegetarian, etc.) should contact us in advance to make proper arrangements for the flight and during the program.

MEDICATION AND CONTACT LENSES If you are taking prescribed medication, bring enough for the duration of the program as well as an extra written prescription record in case you misplace/lose your medicine. Take all medication on the plane with you in your hand luggage. Do NOT pack any medication with your checked-in luggage. The same is true for contact lenses. Be sure to check TSA’s restrictions on traveling with medication and liquids at: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm.

Participants are responsible for taking their own medication during the trip. Keep in mind that while staff has a list of all medications taken by participants, staff members will not legally be allowed to assist in administering any medication for participants. If you have special requests (i.e. refrigeration requirements), please note them on your health forms and feel free to contact the office as well to confirm. Finally, please be advised that participants are never allowed to share, dispense, or sell medication. Violation of this policy is grounds for program dismissal.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS If you are musically inclined and willing to bring your instrument to Israel (with all of the hassle and risks involved in flying with it), by all means, feel free to do so. There will be plenty of occasions to show off your skills.

SHABBAT PROGRAMMING Shabbat is a special time on the Pioneer Israel Trip program. Since there is no driving on Shabbat, it is our best chance to sit back as a group and reflect on the prior week’s activities. Friday nights and Saturdays will include plenty of time for informal discussions and some much needed rest. The Pioneer Israel Trip program also provides a number of options for the observance of Shabbat, and participants are encouraged to take a leadership role in planning these programs.

As a general rule, nothing in the Pioneer Israel Trip program will oblige or encourage participants to violate the rules of Shabbat. At the same time, what participants do during non-programmed Shabbat time is their business. We only ask that you be mindful and considerate of the various levels of religious practice of individual participants. It is very important to us that everyone feel comfortable on Shabbat regardless of Jewish background.

VALUABLES Theft is not uncommon in any place where a large number of tourists congregate, and there have been many instances in the past. Accordingly, we encourage you to leave items of value at home and to carefully keep track of anything valuable that you do bring on the program. As a general rule, hotel rooms should always remain locked. However, even a locked hotel room should not be considered a secure area unless a locked safe is available. If it is possible to bring a locking suitcase, we recommend it, although it is not a solution by itself. Participant property is the sole responsibility of the participant.

VACCINATIONS There is no need for vaccinations or immunizations against diseases prior to visiting Israel beyond the normal vaccinations routinely received against childhood diseases in North America. Please make sure that you have up-to-date tetanus shots.

WATER Proper hydration is essential during a trip of this nature. Expect to be drinking two large bottles of water a day (more in the desert!). You can expect that the staff will be constantly reminding you to drink, drink, drink!! But ultimately you must take this responsibility on your own shoulders. The water in Israel is properly treated and is perfectly safe to drink. Some North Americans find that it has a "taste". Bottled water is widely available and inexpensive, and you will have many opportunities to purchase it. Similarly you will be able to refill your own water bottles with tap water frequently. If you would like to get fancy, you can always bring a Camelback type hydration device. If you do, make sure it is the kind that can hold at least two full liters of water. Participants will not be allowed off the bus without full water bottles!

IX. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Participants on the Pioneer Israel Trip are expected to abide by the directions of camp staff, all camp rules, the current laws of the United States and/or local laws of Israel. In particular, please pay close attention to the following program policies: • I understand that without advanced camp staff approval, no participant is allowed to leave the program for any purpose or at any time from the time of arrival until the completion of the program.

• I understand that no guests are allowed on the program without camp staff’s prior approval.

• I understand that curfew means participants must be in their assigned rooms with lights out and ready for bed. Additionally, I understand that participants may not leave their room between the start of curfew and wake up.

• I understand that all programs, workshops, services, meetings and meals are mandatory. I will review and follow the program schedule and will remain in appropriately staffed and/or authorized areas.

• I understand that at no time will any males be allowed to enter a females sleeping area nor females be allowed to enter males. Additionally, program staff may designate areas as “single-sex” and these areas are off-limits to participants of the opposite gender.

• I understand the use or possession of fireworks, firearms, alcohol, tobacco, illegally controlled substances or other prescription drug(s) without valid prescription, fighting, intimidation, bullying, or gambling will result in expulsion.

• I understand that smoking is expressly prohibited on the program.

• I understand that I am to be respectful of and towards my peers, professional staff and supporting staff.

• I understand that if I become aware of any conduct by any participant which I believe is illegal or creates a risk of harm to any individual, I will immediately report the incident to the appropriate camp staff representative.

I understand that my failure to uphold these policies may result in discipline, including the immediate termination of my participation in the Program. I further understand that Beber Camp/Perlman Camp staff, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, reserves the right (but does not have the obligation) to search my person and/or belongings and to take such action (or to refrain from such action) at it deems appropriate to secure the safety of me and/or others and/or to ensure compliance with the program rules.

CONSEQUENCES OF EXPULSION

I understand that in the event I am expelled from the Pioneer Israel Trip, I will not be entitled to any refund of paid program fees or costs and that all travel arrangements, costs and liabilities (including escort costs, if applicable) associated with being sent home will be the sole responsibility of me and my parent/legal guardian, which must be paid up front. Beber Camp/Perlman Camp is authorized to

charge all such travel arrangements, costs and liabilities to the credit card on record or to collect payment through other means if a valid credit card is not on file. I further understand that in such circumstances it shall be the sole responsibility of my parent/legal guardian identified below to make immediate arrangements to pick me up at the location designated by program staff. I further agree that in the event Beber Camp/Perlman Camp incurs any costs, expenses or liabilities for which I or my parent/legal guardian are responsible, and which are not covered or paid for by the credit card on record, Beber Camp/Perlman Camp reserves the right to pursue collection of such costs, expenses and/or liabilities through appropriate collection agency proceedings. In the event I am expelled from a program, I understand that Beber Camp/Perlman Camp reserves the right to make travel arrangements for my return to the originating gateway city airport (i.e. the city from which the group travel originated) and to place me on a flight as an unaccompanied minor, unless other arrangements, satisfactory to Beber Camp/Perlman Camp, are made with the consent of my parents/guardians.

X. PROGRAM ITINERARY

The following is a projected itinerary. The order of specific days and the exact schedule of activities are subject to some change and will be re-confirmed prior to the program.

DAY 1: Sunday, July 13 2014 – Take off • Beber Camp Flight: Chicago O'Hare - 9:00pm • Perlman Camp Flight: JFK - 10:55pm

DAY 2: Monday, July 14 2014 • Land in Warsaw and Meet Bus and Polish Guide • Putting the Trip into Perspective • Gesia Street Cemetery • Tour the Ghetto • Umschlagplatz, Heroes and Martyrs walk • Check into the Hotel • Opening Dinner at the Old Town Market • Overnight: Novotel Centrum –Warsaw

DAY 3: Tuesday, July 15 2014 • Breakfast at the Hotel • Tykocin “A beautiful world that was destroyed” • Lopuchowo Forest • Treblinka • Return to Warsaw • Overnight: Novotel Centrum –Warsaw

DAY 4: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 • Tour of Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, Poland’s Jewish spiritual center during the 16th and 17th centuries • Walking tour to Podgorze, site of the Krakow Ghetto. See Schindler’s factory • as shown in the movie “Schindler’s List”

• Plaszow Concentration Camp • Dinner in the Old Town Market Square • Overnight: Novotel Bronowice - Krakow

DAY 5: Thursday, July 17, 2014 • Visit to Auschwitz, the most infamous Nazi Concentration Camp, including a visit to the Death Camp of Auschwitz II-Birkenau • Group Memorial Ceremony • Return to Krakow Airport • Overnight: Flight to Israel (via Warsaw)

DAY 6: Friday, July 18, 2014 • Arrival to Israel • Breakfast and Welcome to Israel at Neot Kedumim • Drive North • Tour Caesarea National Park • Swim at the Mediterranean and time to relax on the beach • Photo Op at the Baha’i Gardens on the Slopes of the Carmel. Overview of Haifa's most striking landmark, the splendid Baha'i Shrine and Gardens • Group Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kibbutz • Festive Shabbat Dinner and Oneg Shabbat Program • Overnight: Kibbutz Shomrat Guest House, Western Galilee

DAY 7: Saturday, July 19, 2014 - Theme: Shabbat in the North • Group Shabbat Program • Tour the Kibbutz • Rest, Relaxation and Swimming • Seudah Shlisheet - the third meal • Havdallah • Cruise + Pizza Dinner and Disco Party on the Kinneret / Acre (Acco) • Overnight: Kibbutz Shomrat Guest House, Western Galilee

DAY 8: Sunday, July 20, 2014 - Theme: Northern Israel: Understanding the Issues • Morning Water Hike in the North – Jilabun • Learn about Israel’s Security Challenges from Mount Bental • Overview of Southern Lebanon from Misgav Am • Rafting on the Jordan River • Drive to the Kibbutz and Dinner • Overnight: Kibbutz Shomrat Guest House, Western Galilee

DAY 9: Monday, July 21, 2014 - Theme: Spirituality and Mysticism in the Galilee • Tour the Mystical City of Tzfat • Visit to Safed, pronounced Tzfat in Hebrew which sits at a higher altitude than any other city in Israel and has been known since the 16th century as a major centre of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. Visit Avraham Levinthal’s Kabbalah Workshop • Shopping Time and Pizur Lunch in Tzfat

• Drive to Tel Aviv • Introduction to Tel Aviv from Old Jaffa • Check In and Dinner at the Hotel • Evening Out • Overnight: Armon Yam Hotel, Bat Yam

DAY 10: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - Theme: The City that Never Stops • Experience the Creation of the State at Independence Hall: Independence Hall is housed in what was one of the first homes in Tel Aviv and the private home of Meir Dizengoff, first mayor of Tel Aviv. On the 5th of 'Iyar, (May 14, 1948), the People's Council gathered to hear David Ben Gurion proclaim the establishment of the State of Israel. • Visit Rabin Square and Discuss the Struggles of Modern Israel. Rabin Square where, on November 4th, 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist at a peace rally. Pay tribute to Rabin at the memorial erected on the exact location where he was shot. • Tikun Olam Project in the Fields with Table to Table (Leket Israel). Serving as the country's National Food Bank and largest food rescue network, Leket Israel works to alleviate the problem of nutritional insecurity among the growing numbers of Israel's poor. Each year, with the help of 40,000 volunteers, Leket Israel rescues over 700,000 meals and 21 million pounds of produce and perishable goods, and supplies over 1.25 million (7,500/school day) volunteer prepared sandwiches to underprivileged children. • Drive to Jerusalem • Shehecheyanu and Overview from the Haas Promenade • Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY 11: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - Theme: Jerusalem – The Eternal City • Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall. For generations, Jews have come to pray here, as it is respected as the sole remnant of the Holy Temple. It is the closest permitted accessible site to the holiest, which lies on the Temple Mount. • Continue Touring the Old City- 3 Religions, 1 City • Israel Update at the Hotel • Relax and Dinner at the Hotel • Enjoy the Night Spectacular at the Tower of David which comes to life with a spectacular new light show • Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY 12: Thursday, July 24, 2014 - Theme: Remembrance and Hope • Visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and memorial to the Holocaust situated atop Har Ha’Zikaron, literally the “Hill of Memory” • Tour Mount Herzl and the National Military Cemetery • Group Processing Session and Discussion • Lunch on Own at the Machne Yehuda Market • Participants Hosted by Families Depart for Free Weekend in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem • Dinner at the Hotel and Movie Night • Overnight: Kibbutz Almog Guest House

DAY 13: Friday, July 25, 2014 - Theme: Free Weekend 17

• Volunteering Project • Free Time in Nachalat Shiv’a and the Mamilla Promenade • Return to the Guest House and Shabbat Preparation • Kabbalat Shabbat • Festive Shabbat Dinner at the Kibbutz • Oneg Shabbat Program • Overnight: Kibbutz Almog Guest House

DAY 14: Saturday, July 26, 2014 • Rest and Relaxation at the Hotel • Free Time at the Pool • Lunch at the Guest House • Group Program • Seudah Shlisheet – the third meal • Havdallah • Pizur Dinner at the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Promenade • Overnight: Kibbutz Almog Guest House

DAY 15: Sunday, July 27, 2014 - Theme: Digging for Our Past • 9:15 am + 10:15 am Families Drop off Participants in Tel Aviv & Jerusalem • Hands-On Interactive Archaeological Dig at Beit Guvrin, where thousands of underground caves date back to the time of the Phoenicians, become archaeologists for a day and take part in the ongoing digs at the caves, which served as storerooms, burial crypts and safe havens during the time of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans. • Spelunking at the Maresha Caves • Drive South • Camel Trek, Bedouin Hospitality and Hafla Dinner • Star Gazing and Desert Meditation and Late Night Bonfire • Overnight: Kfar Hanokdim Bedouin Tent

DAY 16: Monday, July 28, 2014 - Theme: Masada – Choosing Our Heroes • Breakfast at Kfar Hanokdim • Ascend Masada via the Roman Ramp. Tour King Herod’s historic hilltop fortress, where a small group of Jewish zealots took refuge after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 BCE, resisting a prolonged siege by the Roman army. Today, Masada is a source of self- reflection for Israelis and Jews around the world • Descend via the Snake Path • Hike the Ein Gedi and the Nachal David Natural Desert Oasis • Lunch and Relax at the Ein Gedi Dead Sea Spa • Drive to Eilat • Check In and Dinner at the hotel • Overnight: Rio Hotel, Eilat

DAY 17: Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - Theme: Treasures of the Red Sea • Sunrise Hike at Mount Tzefachot • Snorkeling at the Almog Beach Underwater Nature Reserve • Lunch and Shopping on the Eilat Boardwalk & Relax at the Beach

• Dinner at the Hotel • Overnight: Rio Hotel, Eilat

DAY 18: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - Theme: Program Summary and Farewell Weekend • Visit to Timna • Drive to Sde Boker. Visit the final resting place of Israel’s first Prime Minister and his wife, in a desert garden. The graves of David and Paula Ben-Gurion overlook a breath-taking view of the Tzin canyon and the Avdat highlands in the heart of the Negev. David Ben-Gurion, who declared the establishment of the state of Israel and became its first Prime Minister, was arguably one of the most outstanding figures of the 20th century. Not only did he dream that the Negev could flourish, he and Paula practiced what he preached by becoming members of Kibbutz Sde Boker in 1953. • Drive to Jerusalem • Late Afternoon Stroll through Mishkenot She’ananim - Built in 1860 as the first Jewish neighbourhood outside Jerusalem’s Old City, it stood virtually alone in the landscape. The builder, Sir Moses Montefiore, had the roof designed to imitate the tops of the nearby Old City walls, and gave it the Hebrew name “peaceful dwellings” so the new residents would feel secure. The quarter’s landmark windmill now houses a museum dedicated to Montefiore. Nearby stands a replica of Montefiore’s carriage. This neighborhood was on divided Jerusalem’s border and restored after the Six Day War. • Dinner at the Hotel • Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY 19: Thursday, July 31, 2014 • Tour the City of David and Hezekiah’s Tunnel. King David captured a Jebusite citadel in order to build his capital. The city was well fortified with its own water source; it had never belonged to any of the Israelite tribes and was, therefore, unlikely to provoke jealousy among them. In spite of the fact that it was not on a major thoroughfare or centrally located to all the tribes, Jerusalem was perfect for the new kind of national state that David envisaged. • Kotel Tunnels Tour • Hike in the Judean Hills - Sataf • Free Time to Enjoy Ben Yehuda & Pizur Dinner • Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Jerusalem

DAY 20: Friday, August 1, 2014 – 33 Pax • Drive to Tel Aviv • Palmach Museum • Time to Enjoy the Tel Aviv Beach • Shopping and Pizur Lunch in the Nachalat Binyamin Artists Market. Nachalat Binyamin is a quaint open air market in the heart of downtown Tel-Aviv. The market is comprised of over 100 stands representing specialty crafts and folk art in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, sand, glass, ceramics, and various metals, with most if not all containing materials or themes found only in Israel. • Return to Jerusalem • Kabbalat Shabbat at the Hotel • Festive Shabbat Dinner and Oneg Shabbat Program • Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Jerusalem 19

DAY 21: Saturday, August 2, 2014 - Theme: Taking our Experience Home with Us • Group Program • Lunch at Hotel • Seudah Shlisheet and Final Group Summary • Havdallah • Festive Dinner • Depart to the Airport • Overnight Flight to the U.S.

DAY 22: Sunday, August 3, 2014 • Flight Via Warsaw

APPENDIX I. HOME HOSPITALITY WEEKEND RELEASE FORM

Name of Participant: ______DOB: ______

HOME HOSPITALITY RULES ______• No participant will be allowed to leave for the free weekend on public transportation. Every participant that leaves for the free weekend must be picked up by an adult aged 21 or older. There will be pick-up/drop-off locations for friends/family Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. • You may also permit your son/daughter to join a fellow participant at their relatives or family friends for the Home Hospitality Weekend. In this case, you are still required to supply the details of who will pick up your child and where your child will be throughout the weekend. • By signing this consent release, you are allowing your son/daughter to leave the group during the weekend. Pioneer Israel Trip rules remain in effect throughout the free weekend, whether the participant remains with the group or visits with friends/family.

Home Hospitality Arrangements Please detail who will be picking up your son/daughter for the Home Hospitality Weekend (must be 21 or older):

Name: ______Relation: ______Cell: ______

Please indicate below where your son/daughter will be staying for the Home Hospitality Weekend:

Name ______Relation: ______

Address______

Phone #1 ______Phone #2 ______

Parental Consent. I permit my son/daughter to spend the weekend with a family I am providing information below. I understand that the staff will refuse permission, unless a phone number and address of a home of a friend or relative in Israel is provided.

______

Parent / Guardian Name Parent / Guardian Signature Date Signed

APPENDIX II. WHY ISRAEL?

You could spend your summer traveling through Europe, hiking across America, hanging out with your friends from home. So why Israel? Year after year, thousands of Jews from all over the world make their way to Israel, again and again and again.

For our ancestors, love of Israel was ingrained in their daily lives. Each day, they would face Jerusalem, and pray for the return to Zion. More recently, after the Holocaust, our parents and grandparents saw the immediate need for a Jewish home. But this generation has the great fortune to live in a world where the Jewish state is a living, thriving entity – a home to both its inhabitants, and Jews all over the world. How does this pertain to you? This summer, Pioneer Israel Trip lets you explore that very question.

Roots of Israel The origins of the Jews as a people are in the land called Israel. The historical, cultural and religious roots of Jews are as the "children of Israel" who lived in the Land of Israel (the word "Jew" comes from the word "Judea:" the largest of the tribes of Israel in Biblical times). Everything that is at the core of the early history of the Jews is linked to Israel. The Bible and its early heroes (patriarchs and matriarchs, Moses, David and Solomon) are rooted in the Land of Israel. The great prophetic ideas such as justice, equality and peace, which have shaped world history, were formulated in the Land of Israel. The roots of the Jews as a historical people are in the soil of Israel and our culture teaches us of the yearning to return to that land when we were exiled from it.

The Bible Israel is the land of the Bible and as one scholar says, "the Bible is the original super story!" It is a book that has shaped the art, music, thought and behavior of millions of peoples and religions throughout world history. Israel is the place where the Bible was written and in it is told the saga of the Jewish people who lived there.

Memories and Dreams Throughout history Jews developed an ongoing and life-long love affair with Israel. Amazingly, whether in Israel or not, Jews never forgotten the Land of Israel. They referred to it in their prayers, in their weddings and even when building a new home. Jews continue to face towards Jerusalem in their synagogues and have continued to give money to the Jewish community in Israel throughout the ages. It became part of the memory and dreams of Jews.

The Pillars of Judaism Israel was turned into one of the key pillars of Judaism - along with the God of Israel, the Torah of Israel and the people of Israel. With a few exceptions, Israel was not seen as a replacement for Judaism but rather as an integral part of it. The Jewish religion made Israel a religious idea and collective vision and turned it into one of the cornerstones of Jewish religious civilization.

Jewish Pride and Renewal In modern times, Israel has become a remarkable statement about the ability of the Jewish people to renew itself after the nightmare of the Holocaust. Israel made Jews proud because it served as a haven for Jews, renewed Jewish cultural creativity and study and represented Jewish values. Israel became a daily reminder that Judaism as a religion is alive and well and that Jewish nationalism and culture are equally important in the definition of the "New Jew." Israel represents the ideological revolution in which Jews became the "subjects" of history rather than the "objects." Jewish national pride has been inspired by the actions of farmers and soldiers, high-tech wizards and social reformers, who have labored to create a just and healthier society.

The Old and the New Modern Israel is striking proof that a very old religion can survive in a very modern world. Israel is the Western Wall of old and art galleries and coffee houses of today. It is the holiness of Shabbat in Jerusalem and the beat of Saturday night in Tel Aviv. It is archeology of the past and high tech and business of the future. Israel shows that Judaism can be old and new at the same time.

About Jews Israel is about Jews. It is about saving Jews; it is about Jews being able to live regular lives. It is about Jews learning how to live with each other. It's about a Jewish state that sometimes makes mistakes and is not perfect, but that still strives for social justice and protects democratic values. Ultimately, maybe it's not philosophy, theology or history - it's about real live people who are our brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and family.

So, back to our original question: Why Israel? It's a central part of Jewish history, culture and religion. It's part of our family. It's part of the general culture in which we live. It’s a part of you.

This trip is about your own very personal conversation with this most ancient land and most modern state. Our goal is simple – let you explore and discover your connection to Israel and the Jewish people.

ISRAEL 101: SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Official Name: State of Israel (Medinat Yisrael)

Independence: Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. The country celebrates Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzma'ut) according to the corresponding date on the Hebrew calendar - the 5th day of the month of Iyar.

Flag: White with a blue hexagram known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands.

Location: In southwest Asia along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

Area: 20,770 sq. km (slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey); includes the Golan Heights and disputed territories of the West Bank Population: 5.8 million citizens. Jews comprise 80.5% of the country's population; non-Jewish citizens, most of them Muslim Arabs, make up the remaining 19.5%. About 91% of Israel's inhabitants live in some 200 towns and cities, largest of which are Jerusalem (pop. 602,100) Jerusalem, Tel Aviv (pop. 353,100) Tel Aviv, Haifa (pop. 255,300) Haifa, and Beersheva (pop. 156,500); about 5% are members of rural cooperative settlements known as kibbutzim and moshavim.

Languages: Hebrew and Arabic. English is frequently used as a second language, and Russian is spoken by more than one-fifth of the population.

Currency: One new Israeli shekel equals 100 agurot (e.g. cents); exchange rate: approximately 3.5 shekels per $1 USA dollar.

Military: Israel has mandatory conscription for Jewish, Druze and Circassian citizens; however, the majority of full-time yeshiva (religious seminary) students are currently exempt (this is changing). Men typically serve three years, and women two, usually beginning at the age of 18; men also serve compulsory reserve duty until the age of 51. Muslim and Christian Arabs are exempt from service, although some, especially Bedouin, volunteer.

Capital: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1949, although practically all countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv. During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel annexed the eastern part of the city, including the walled Old City, into the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. The annexation is not recognized by the UN and most countries.

Government: Israel is a parliamentary democracy with legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The duties of the President are mostly ceremonial. The Knesset, Israel's legislative body, is a 120- member unicameral parliament whose members are elected every four years in universal, nationwide elections. The Government Coalition must have the support of a majority of Knesset Members to survive. The Cabinet of Ministers, charged with administering internal and foreign affairs, is headed by the prime minister and is collectively responsible to the Knesset.

Economy: Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government intervention. The country is reliant on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and some military hardware. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its industrial sector over the past 20 years. High-tech hardware and software, biotech, military systems, diamonds and agricultural products are top exports.

The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the 1980s and 1990s brought close to one million new immigrants and added scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. This influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. Tighter fiscal and monetary policies in the mid-1990's brought inflation down to record low levels by the end of the decade. Unemployment is currently at a record low.

WEATHER

Tel Aviv: 30-33 °C 86-91 °F

Jerusalem: 30-31 °C 86-88 °F

Eilat: 30-31 °C 86-88 °F

North: 31-32 °C 86-89 °F

Useful Links: http://www.goisrael.com/ : A great site with tons of useful information http://www.haaretzdaily.com : High quality Israeli daily newspaper http://www.themarker.com/eng/: Israeli Financial Website http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html : The CIA’s World Factbook

ISRAEL – Location/ Map

Key information on some sites “Yad Vashem” - Holocaust Museum

Location: Jerusalem

Website: http://www.yadvashem.org.il/

Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, was established in 1953 by an act of the Israeli Knesset. Since its inception, Yad Vashem has been entrusted with documenting the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust period, preserving the memory and story of each of the six million victims, and imparting the legacy of the Holocaust for generations to come through its archives, library, school, museums and recognition of the Righteous Among the Nations.

The Holocaust

The Holocaust was the murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. Between the German invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941 and the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Nazi Germany and its accomplices strove to murder every Jew under their domination. Because Nazi discrimination against the Jews began with Hitler's accession to power in January 1933, many historians consider this the start of the Holocaust era. The Jews were not the only victims of Hitler's regime, but they were the only group that the Nazis sought to destroy entirely. The term Holocaust is defined by the New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary of the English Language (1989) as a large-scale sacrifice or destruction, especially of life, especially by fire. As the research of Jon Petrie shows, Holocaust was already used by some writers during the war itself to describe what was happening to the Jews. Alongside it, various other terms such as destruction, disaster, and catastrophe have been and are still being used today to describe the fate of the Jews in Nazi-dominated Europe, although the dominant usage in American English since the middle of the 1960s is of the word Holocaust. In Hebrew, the word “Shoah” is used, and it appears more and more frequently in English-language texts. Genocide is a legal term for the destruction of the essential foundations of the life of national groups. It may include, but does not necessarily include, the physical annihilation of the group. The Holocaust is an expression, and arguably the most extreme expression, of genocide.

Masada

Location: Judean Desert

Ancient mountaintop fortress in Israel, Masada is the final outpost of the Zealot Jews in their rebellion against Roman authority (A.D. 66– 73). Located in the Judaean Desert, the fortress sits atop a mesa- shaped rock that towers some 1,300 ft (400 m) above the western shore of the Dead Sea. According to the ancient historian Josephus, Masada was first fortified sometime during the 1st or 2d cent. B.C. Between 37 and 31 B.C. Herod the Great, king of Judaea, further strengthened Masada, building two ornate palaces, a bathhouse, aqueducts, and surrounding siege walls. In A.D. 66, with the outbreak of the Jewish war against Rome, the Zealots, an extremist Jewish sect, seized the fortress in a surprise attack and massacred its Roman garrison. Masada remained under Zealot control until A.D. 73, when, after a siege, the 15,000 soldiers of Rome's tenth legion finally subdued the 1,000 men, women, and children holding the fortress. In a final act of defiance, however, almost all of the Jewish defenders had killed themselves rather than be captured and enslaved by the Romans. Only two women and five children survived to tell of the Zealots' last action. Most archaeologists believe the siege lasted several months, although some have suggested it may have taken only a few weeks. Excavated (1963–65) by Yigael Yadin and an international team of volunteer archaeologists, Masada is now a major tourist site and an Israeli historical shrine. Large-scale archaeological excavations were also conducted at the site in the 1950s.

The cliffs on the east edge of Masada are about 450 meters high, dropping off to the Dead sea, and the cliffs on the west are about 100 meters high; the natural approaches to the cliff top are very difficult. The top of the plateau is flat and rhomboid shaped, approximately 600 by 300 meters. There was a casemate wall around the top of the plateau totaling 1400 meters long and 4 meters thick with many towers, and the fortress included storehouses, cisterns that were refilled by rainwater, barracks, palaces and an armory. Three narrow, winding paths led from below to fortified gates.

The Dead Sea Location: Judean Desert

The Dead Sea is the Earth's lowest point not covered by ice, at 418 m (1371 feet) below sea level and falling, and the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, at 330 m (1083 feet) deep. It is the second saltiest body of water on Earth, with a salinity of about 30 percent.[3] Only Lake Asal (Djibouti) has a higher salinity. This is about 8.6 times greater than average ocean salinity. It measures 67 km (42 miles) long, 18 km (11 miles) wide at its widest point, and is located on the border between the West Bank, Jordan, and Israel, and lies in the Jordan Rift Valley.

5000 years of history

King David, King Herod, Jesus, and John the Baptist were closely linked with the Dead Sea and its surroundings. The prophets knew it via the infamous Sodom and Gomorra. During the Egyptian it is said that Queen Cleopatra obtained exclusive rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical in the area. Later on, the wily Nabateans discovered the value of bitumen extracted from the Dead Sea and needed by the Egyptians for embalming their mummies. Aristotle wrote about the remarkable waters. The remoteness of the region attracted Greek Orthodox monks since the Byzantine era. Their monasteries such as Saint George in Wadi Kelt and Mar Saba in the Judean Desert are places of pilgrimage. Bedouin tribes have continuously lived in the area and more recently explorers and scientists arrived to analyze the minerals and conduct research into the unique climate. Since the 1960's, tourists from the entire world have also explored the Dead Sea region.

Health

It's no wonder that the Dead Sea has become an international health, rehabilitation, recreation and beauty spa resort. The Dead Sea is the only place in the world that combines it all; year- round hot weather, an enriched oxygen atmosphere, therapeutic UVB solar radiation, a mineral- rich salt sea, world famous mineral-rich mud, thermo mineral hot springs and luxurious spas. Research has shown that the combined climatic factors have a long lasting positive therapeutic effect on dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and rheumatic or degenerative joint diseases.

Kibbutz

Location: Kibbutz Ein gev, Sea of Galilee

A kibbutz is an Israeli collective community. Although other countries have had communal enterprises, in no other country have voluntary collective communities played as important a role as kibbutzim have played in Israel, indeed. Combining communism and Zionism, kibbutzim are a unique Israeli experiment, and part of the largest secular communal movement in history. Inspired by their own socialist ideology, kibbutz members developed a pure communist mode of living that attracted interest from the entire world. While kibbutzim lasted for several generations as utopian communities, today kibbutzim are scarcely different from the capitalist enterprises and regular towns to which kibbutzim were originally supposed to be alternatives. Kibbutzim have given Israel a wildly disproportionate share of its military leaders, intellectuals, and politicians. The kibbutz movement, though it never accounted for more than 7 percent of the Israeli population, did more to shape the image Israelis have of their country, and the image of foreigners have of Israel, than any other Israeli institution.

The principle of equality was taken extremely seriously up until the 1970s. Kibbutzniks did not individually own animals, tools, or even clothing. Gifts and income received from outside were turned over to the common treasury. If one kibbutz member received a gift in services—like a visit to a relative who was a dentist or a trip abroad paid for by a parent—there were arguments at evening meetings about the propriety of accepting such a gift. The arrival of children at a new kibbutz posed certain problems. If kibbutzniks owned everything in common, then who was in charge of the children? This question was answered by regarding the children as belonging to all, even to the point of kibbutz mothers breastfeeding babies which were not their own. For most kibbutzim, the arrival of children was a sobering experience. "When we saw our first children in the playpen, hitting one another, or grabbing toys just for themselves, we were overcome with anxiety. What did it mean that even an education in communal life couldn't uproot these egotistical tendencies? The utopia of our initial social conception was slowly, slowly destroyed." In the 1920s kibbutzim began a practice of raising children communally away from their parents in special communities called "Children's Societies". The theory was that trained nurses and teachers would be better care-providers than amateur parents. Children and parents would have better relationships due to the Children's Societies, since parents would not have to be disciplinarians, and there would be no Oedipus complex. Also, it was hoped that raising children away from parents would liberate mothers from their "biological tragedy." Instead of spending hours a day raising children, women could thus be free to work or enjoy leisure.

Country Overview

History

Zionism and Israel

The creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948 was preceded by more than 60 years of efforts by Zionist leaders to establish a sovereign nation as a national homeland for Jews. The desire of Jews to return to what they consider their rightful homeland was first expressed during the Babylonian captivity after 597 BCE and became a universal Jewish theme after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE and the exiles that followed. The Jewish diaspora and those who stayed continued to see the land as their spiritual home and as the Promised Land.

For generations, this universal theme carried a mostly religious overtones due to the belief that the Jewish people would return to Zion (a synecdoche for the Land of Israel) with the coming of the Messiah, i.e., only after divine intervention. Some proposed or attempted to return earlier, but they were in a minority. While today most Jews support Zionism to one degree or another, when it was first proposed it was highly controversial and a great many Jews opposed it. The Reform Jews of 1800s and early 1900s Germany were, at the time, anti-Zionist; they were opposed to any conception of Jewry as anything other than a religion.

Secular Zionists, by contrast, were intent on seeing Jewry primarily as an ethnic group - many of the Zionists had rejected Judaism, but still viewed themselves as in some sense "Jewish". Many Hasidim and other ultra-orthodox Jews believed that any attempt to return to Israel before the coming of the Messiah was sacrilegious. The Lubavitcher Rebbes, for instance, were anti-Zionist. Conservative Judaism, which in the late 1800s was more of a scholarly school of thought than a formal denomination, has always been Zionist. Since the Holocaust, however, Judaism has become overwhelmingly Zionist. Today all of Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodoxy are staunchly Zionist; and even most Haredi Jews have changed from anti-Zionism (active opposition to Zionism) to non-Zionism (neutrality towards Zionism.) Secular non-Zionist Jewish movements are very rare today.

By the mid-19th century, the Land of Israel was a part of the Ottoman Empire, populated mostly by Muslim and Christian Arabs, as well as Jews, Druze, Bedouins and other minorities. In addition to these traditional religious Jewish communities, known as the Old Yishuv, the second half of

the 19th century saw a new kind of Jewish immigrant, prevalently secular left-wing socialists who aimed to reclaim the land by working on it. Mikveh Israel was founded in 1870 by Alliance Israelite Universelle, followed by Petah Tikva (1878), Rishon LeZion (1882), and other agricultural communities founded by the members of early Zionist groups named Bilu and Hovevei Zion. Near the end of the century Leon Pinsker and Theodore Herzl took practical steps toward securing international support for a Jewish homeland in the region of Palestine, though neither of them considered Palestine as the only conceivable site for the future state. In 1897, the First Zionist Congress proclaimed the decision to "to establish a home for the Jewish people in Eretz- Israel secured under public law.”

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 asserted the British Government's support for the creation of "a Jewish homeland in Palestine". This declaration was supported by a number of other countries, including the United States, and became more important following World War I, when the League of Nations assigned the United Kingdom the Palestine mandate.

Early History of Modern Israel

Jewish immigration grew slowly in the 1920s; it increased substantially in the 1930s, due to political turmoil in Europe and Nazi persecution, until restrictions were imposed by the United Kingdom in 1939. After the end of World War II, and the near-extermination of European Jewry by the Nazis, international support for Jews seeking to settle in Palestine overcame British efforts to restrict immigration.

Following World War II, the British announced their intention to withdraw from the mandate of Palestine. The United Nations General Assembly (GA Resolution 181, November 29 1947) proposed the partition of Palestine into two states, an Arab state and a Jewish state, with Jerusalem to be under United Nations administration. Most Jews in Palestine accepted the proposal, while most of the Arabs in Palestine rejected it. Although the Arabs were not under any legal obligation to accept the plan (as General Assembly resolutions are not binding), it is often claimed that their main motivation in doing so was the total rejection of the idea of a Jewish state. The Arab nations in the UN proposed an alternative settlement in which there would be a federal Palestinian state with separate governments for Arab and Jewish countries, with a constitution based on that of the United States of America.

Violence between Arab and Jewish communities erupted almost immediately. Toward the end of the British mandate, the Jews planned to declare a separate state, a development the Arabs were determined to prevent. On May 14, 1948, the last British forces withdrew from Palestine, and the Jews in Palestine declared the creation of the State of Israel, in accordance with the Partition Plan.

On the same day, the Arabs announced their rejection of the Partition Plan. Shortly after, Syrian, Iraqi, and Egyptian troops invaded Israel. Israel successfully repelled the armies, and then

advanced its forces to occupy most of the territory set aside under the Partition Plan for the Arabs and for the City of Jerusalem. A cease fire agreement was signed between the two sides, with the current front line becoming the boundary between Israel and the Arab territories. As a result of the 1948 war, Israel controlled all the territory allotted to them under the Partition Plan, much of the territory allotted to the Arabs under the Plan, and half of what was to be the UN-administered City of Jerusalem. The remaining Arab territories were the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; the West Bank was administered by Jordan, while the Gaza Strip was administered by Egypt. In 1949, under UN auspices, four armistice agreements were negotiated and signed at Rhodes, Greece, between Israel and its neighbors Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The 1948-49 war of independence resulted in a 50% increase in Israeli territory, including western Jerusalem. No general peace settlement was achieved at Rhodes, however, and violence along the borders continued for many years.

As a result of this war, about 711,000 Arab refugees were created (according to the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine and, according to pro-Israeli sources, over 800,000 Jewish refugees were created. The latter figure includes all Jews who fled or were expelled from Arab states after Israel was created. Pro-Palestinian sources call these people emigrants, rather than refugees). In the view of a vast majority of Arabs the birth of Israel has been a cause of ethnic cleansing targeting the Palestinians. About 600,000 of the Jewish refugees settled in the State of Israel; many of the Arab refugees, and their descendants, remain to this day in refugee camps run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

On July 5, 1950 the Knesset passed the Law of Return which granted all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel. Even prior to the passing of that law, immigrants flocked to Israel, some assisted by Israeli authorities. From 1947 to 1950 some 250,000 Holocaust survivors made their way to Israel. "Operation Magic Carpet" brought thousands of Yemenite Jews to Israel. The early years were not easy for the newly founded state, and a state of austerity was put into force on 1949, not to be fully annulled until 1959.

1956 Suez War

Throughout 1956 conflict increased between Israel and Egypt, with Egypt sending guerilla forces into Israeli territory and Israel launching frequent incursions into Egyptian territory in response. Egypt blockaded the Gulf of Aqaba, and closed the Suez Canal to Israeli shipping. Egypt also nationalized the canal, to the fury of its previous European controllers. In response, France and the United Kingdom entered into a secret agreement with Israel to take back the canal by force. In accordance with this agreement (which was not officially admitted until very much later), Israel invaded the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula in October 1956. Israeli forces reached the canal in short order and then French and British forces stepped in on the pretext of restoring order.

The Israeli, French and United Kingdom forces were victorious, but were forced to withdraw in March 1957 by pressure from the United States, which did not approve of the Suez War. The United Nations established the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) to keep peace in the area.

Six-Day War

In June 1967, the united Arab military command massed troops along the borders, while Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran and Nasser insisted that the UNEF leave Egypt. On June 5 of that year, the Israeli air force launched preemptive attacks destroying the air force of Egypt, later the same day neutralizing the air forces of Jordan and Syria. Israel then defeated (almost successively) Egypt, Jordan and Syria. By June 11 the Arab forces were routed and all parties had accepted the cease-fire called for by UN Security Council Resolutions 235 and 236.

Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the formerly Jordanian-controlled West Bank of the Jordan River, including East Jerusalem as 'Greater Israel'. On November 22, 1967, the Security Council adopted Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula, which called for the establishment of a just and lasting peace based on Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967 in return for the end of all states of belligerency, respect for the sovereignty of all states in the area, and the right to live in peace within secure, recognized boundaries.

In the 1969-1970 war of attrition, Israeli planes made deep strikes into Egypt in retaliation for repeated Egyptian shelling of Israeli positions along the Suez Canal. In early 1969, fighting broke out between Egypt and Israel along the Suez Canal. The United States helped end these hostilities in August 1970, but subsequent U.S. efforts to negotiate an interim agreement to open the Suez Canal and achieve disengagement of forces were unsuccessful.

The Yom Kippur War

On October 6, 1973 during Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement), the Syrian and Egyptian armies launched a simultaneous attack on Greater Israel and inflicted a heavy defeat on the surprised Israeli Defense Force (IDF). After a three week struggle the invaders were pushed back, the land recaptured and a UN peacekeeping force put in place.

As the result of the shock sustained by Israeli society in the aftermath of the war, the Israeli government started negotiations for security on its borders. On January 18, 1974, a Disengagement of Forces agreement was signed with the Egyptian government, and on May 31, with the Syrian government. On the international scene, the Arab world retaliated by imposing an oil embargo on countries trading with Israel. The government of Japan announced on November 22, 1973 that it would reconsider its relations with the Israeli government unless it withdrew from all territories occupied in 1967.

Egyptian-Israeli Peace Process

In November 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat broke 30 years of hostility with Israel by visiting Jerusalem at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. During a 2-day visit, which included a speech before the Knesset, the Egyptian leader created a new psychological climate in the Middle East in which peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors seemed a realistic possibility. Sadat recognized Israel's right to exist and established the basis for direct negotiations between Egypt and Israel.

In September 1978, U.S. President Jimmy Carter invited President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin to meet with him at Camp David, and on September 11 they agreed on a framework for peace between Israel and Egypt and a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. It set out broad principles to guide negotiations between Israel and the Arab states. It also established guidelines for a West Bank-Gaza transitional regime of full autonomy for the Palestinians residing in the occupied territories and for a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The treaty was signed on March 26, 1979, by Begin and Sadat, with President Carter signing as witness. Under the treaty, Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt in April 1982. In 1989, the Governments of Israel and Egypt concluded an agreement that resolved the status of Taba, a resort area on the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Arab League reacted to the peace treaty by suspending Egypt from their organization and moving their headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. Sadat was later assassinated by members of the Egyptian army which had opposed his efforts to make peace with Israel.

Lebanon

In the years following the 1948 war, Israel's border with Lebanon was quiet compared to its borders with other neighbors. After the expulsion of the Palestinian fedayeen (fighters) from Jordan in 1970 and their influx into southern Lebanon, however, hostilities on Israel's northern border increased. In March 1978, after a series of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian guerrillas in Lebanon, Israeli forces crossed into Lebanon. After passage of Security Council Resolution 425, calling for Israeli withdrawal and the creation of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon peace-keeping force (UNIFIL), Israel withdrew its troops.

In July 1981, after additional fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in Lebanon, President Ronald Reagan's special envoy, Philip C. Habib, helped secure a cease-fire between the parties. During this time the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) launched attacks against northern Israel using rockets and artillery. The PLO simultaneously engaged Lebanese Christian forces.

In June 1982, Israel responded by invading the southern half of Lebanon to drive out the PLO, initially from Southern Lebanon and then altogether. While a few Lebanese did at first welcome the Israelis, almost all Lebanese came to resent Israeli occupation. Heavy Israeli casualties and a lack of clear goals led to increasing disquiet among Israelis at the war as well.

In August 1982, the PLO withdrew its forces from Lebanon. With U.S. assistance, Israel and Lebanon reached an accord in May 1983 that set the stage to withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon. The instruments of ratification were never exchanged, however, and in March 1984, under pressure from Syria, Lebanon canceled the agreement. In June 1985, Israel withdrew most of its troops from Lebanon, leaving a small residual Israeli force and an Israeli-supported militia in southern Lebanon in a "security zone," which Israel considered a necessary buffer against attacks on its northern territory. Israel finally withdrew from this zone in 2000, during the Prime Ministership of Ehud Barak, fulfilling UN Security Council Resolution 425. Lebanon has since claimed a small area of the Golan Heights called "Shebaa Farms" which Israel captured from Syria in 1967.

First Intifada

In response to the continuing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians began the first Intifada (uprising) in 1987. Israel responded with strong military and police resistance, but failed to end the fighting. The first intifada continued until 1991.

Gulf War

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering a war between Iraq and a large allied force, led by the United States. Iraq, seeking to inflame Arab public opinion and draw Arab states out of the alliance (and possibly to Iraq's side), attacked Israel with 30 Scud missiles. Under pressure from the United States, Israel did not retaliate. Instead, it accepted U.S. assistance in deflecting the attacks.

Immigration from the former Soviet Union

In 1990, the Soviet Union permitted Soviet Jews to emigrate from the Soviet Union to Israel. Prior to this the Soviet government had prohibited those members of its Jewish population (approximately three million) who wished to emigrate from doing so. Several hundred thousand chose leave once the restrictions were eased. There has been some doubt expressed as to how many of these emigrants were Jewish according to Jewish law. Traditional Jews expressed these concerns due to issues of Jewish unity.

Additional concerns centered on the ability of these immigrants to adapt to Israeli culture and find suitable employment.

Middle East Peace Process

The coalition's victory in the Gulf war opened new possibilities for regional peace, and in October 1991 the Presidents of the United States and the Soviet Union jointly convened an historic meeting in Madrid of Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian, and Palestinian leaders. This 36

meeting became the foundation for ongoing bilateral and multilateral negotiations designed to bring lasting peace and economic development to the region.

On September 13, 1993, Israel and the PLO signed a Declaration of Principles (DOP) on the South Lawn of the White House. The declaration was a major conceptual breakthrough achieved under the Madrid framework. It established an ambitious set of objectives relating to a transfer of authority from Israel to an interim Palestinian authority. The DOP established May 1999 as the date by which a permanent status agreement for the West Bank and Gaza Strip would take effect. Israel and the PLO subsequently signed the Gaza-Jericho Agreement on May 4, 1994, and the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities on August 29, 1994, which began the process of transferring authority from Israel to the Palestinians.

Tensions with Jordan were lessened on July 25, 1994 when the two nations signed the Washington Declaration which formally ended the state of war that had existed between them since 1948. On October 26, 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a historic peace treaty at a border post between the two countries on October 26, 1994, witnessed by President Bill Clinton, accompanied by Secretary Warren Christopher. Israel ceded a small amount of contested land to Jordan, and the countries opened official diplomatic relations, with open borders and free trade.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the historic Israeli- Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on September 28, 1995, in Washington, D.C.. The agreement, witnessed by President Bill Clinton on behalf of the United States and by Russia, Egypt, Norway, and the European Union, incorporates and supersedes the previous agreements and marked the conclusion of the first stage of negotiations between Israel and the PLO.

The accord broadens Palestinian self-government by means of a popularly elected legislative council. It provides for election and establishment of that body, transfer of civil authority, Israeli redeployment from major population centers in the West Bank, security arrangements, and cooperation in a variety of areas. Negotiations on permanent status began on May 5, 1996 in Taba, Egypt. As agreed in the 1993 DOP, those talks will address the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, final security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with neighboring states, and other issues of common interest.

Assassination of Rabin

The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin by a right-wing Jewish radical on November 4, 1995 climaxed an increasingly bitter national debate over where the peace process was leading. Rabin's death left Israel profoundly shaken, ushered in a period of national self- examination, and produced a new level of national consensus favoring the peace process.

In February 1996 Rabin's successor, Shimon Peres, called early elections. Those elections, held in May 1996 and the first featuring direct election of the prime minister, resulted in a narrow election victory for Likud Party leader Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu and his center- right National Coalition and the defeat of Peres and his left-of-center Labor/Meretz government.

Despite his stated differences with the Oslo Accords, Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed to continue their implementation, but his Prime Ministership saw a marked slow-down in the Peace Process. (Netanyahu supporters argue that this slow-down was in response to Palestinian terrorism.)

Hebron and Wye River Agreements

Prime Minister Netanyahu signed the Hebron Protocol with the Palestinian Authority on January 15, 1997. The Protocol resulted in the redeployment of Israeli forces in Hebron and the turnover of civilian authority in much of the area to the Palestinian Authority. Since that agreement, there has been little progress in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. A crisis of confidence developed between the parties as the parties had difficulty responding to each other and addressing each other's concerns. Israel and the Palestinians did agree, however, in September 1997, to a four- part agenda to guide further negotiations: security cooperation in the fight against terror; further redeployments of Israeli forces; a "time-out" on unilateral actions that may prejudge the outcome of the permanent status talks; and acceleration of these talks. The U.S. sought to marry continued implementation of the 1995 Interim Agreement with the start of the accelerated permanent status talks. In order to overcome the crisis of confidence and break the negotiating impasse, President Clinton presented U.S. ideas for getting the peace process back on track to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat in Washington in January 1998. Those ideas included all aspects of the September 1997 four-part agenda and would allow for the start of accelerated permanent status negotiations. The Palestinians agreed in principle to the U.S. ideas.

The U.S. continued working intensively with the parties to reach agreement on the basis of U.S. ideas. After a 9-day session at the Wye River Conference Center in Maryland, agreement was reached on October 23, 1998. The Wye agreement is based on the principle of reciprocity and meets the essential requirements of both the parties, including unprecedented security measures on the part of the Palestinians and the further redeployment of Israeli troops in the West Bank. The agreement also permits the launching of the permanent status negotiations as the May 4, 1999 expiration of the period of the Interim Agreement.

Second Intifada

Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon, visited the Temple Mount in 2000, sparking Palestinian riots. This marked the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada. Israel claims that the Palestinians had been planning violence far in advance of Sharon's visit, and that his visit was used as an excuse for the planned violence to be launched. In October 2000, Palestinians destroyed a Jewish shrine in Nablus, Joseph's Tomb. They also stoned worshipers at the Western Wall and attacked another Jewish shrine, Rachel’s Tomb.

With the Peace Process increasingly in disarray, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called a special election for Prime Minister. Barak was hoping that a victory for him would give him renewed authority in negotiations with the Palestinians. But Barak's hopes were not to be, and in 2001, opposition leader Ariel Sharon was elected as Prime Minister of Israel.

Unilateral Withdrawal

On December 18, 2003, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced he will consider a unilateral withdrawal from parts of the territories in order to make it easier for long term management of the ongoing intifada. This was crystallized as a plan for total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, while maintaining most of the settlements in the West Bank. The US government announced its support for the plan on April 14, 2004. The first phase of the plan regarding the work of technical committees to work out logistical details was approved by the Israeli cabinet on June 6, 2004.

On October 26, 2004, Sharon's withdrawal plan was ratified by the Israeli parliament. It had been previously defeated in a vote among Sharon's own Likud party and was won in parliament only with the help of the opposition Labor Party's votes.

On August 2005, Israel completed the disengagement plan. All army forces withdrew from the area and settlements were torn down. Despite severe concerns, it was carried out without significant violence or bloodshed. The completion of the disengagement plan, together with Yassir Arafat's death (at the end of 2004) and the appointment of chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazzen), brought a new hope that the second Intifada would stop and peace process resumes. These hopes were unrealized.

Meanwhile, Sharon faced considerable opposition within his own party, the Likud. He consequently decided to retire from the Likud and found the Kadima party, to which several Likud and Labor parliament members joined. Shimon Peres, who lost the internal election in the Labor party, left and joined Sharon.

On January 4, 2006, Sharon suffered a severe cerebral stroke. The Premier responsibilities were bestowed on Ehud Olmert, the Vice Premier. Olmert won the elections and appointed Prime Minister in April 2006.

The Lebanon conflict

The 2006 Lebanon War, known in Lebanon as the July Warand and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. The conflict started on July 12th 2006, and continued until a United Nations-brokered ceasefire went into effect on August 14th 2006, though it formally ended on 8 September 2006 when Israel lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon.

The conflict began when Hezbollah militants fired rockets at Israeli border towns, wounding several civilians, as a diversion for an anti-tank missile attack on two armored Humvees patrolling the Israeli side of the border fence Of the seven Israeli soldiers in the two jeeps, two were wounded, three were killed, and two were seized and taken to Lebanon. Five more were killed in a failed Israeli rescue attempt. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and artillery fire on targets in Lebanon, which damaged Lebanese civilian infrastructure, including Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport which Israel said Hezbollah used to import weapons, an air and naval blockade and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah then launched more rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in guerrilla warfare from hardened positions

More than a thousand people died during the conflict, most of whom were Lebanese civilians; severely damaged Lebanese infrastructure; and displaced 974,184 Lebanese and 300,000- 500,000 Israelis, although most, if not all, were able to return to their homes.

On 11 August 2006, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved UN Resolution 1701 in an effort to end the hostilities. The resolution, which was approved by both Lebanese and Israeli governments the following days, called for disarmament of Hezbollah, for withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon, and for the deployment of Lebanese soldiers and an enlarged United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) force in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army began deploying in southern Lebanon on 17 August 2006. The blockade was lifted on 8 September 2006. On 1 October, 2006, most Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon, though the last of the troops continued to occupy the border-straddling village of Ghajar. In the time since the enactment of UNSCR 1701 both the Lebanese government and UNIFIL have stated that they will not disarm Hezbollah

Land and People

The country is a narrow, irregularly shaped strip of land with four principal regions: the plain along the Mediterranean coast; the mountains, which are east of this coastal plain; the Negev, which comprises the southern half of the country; and the portion of Israel that forms part of the Jordan Valley, in turn a part of the Great Rift Valley. North of the Negev, Israel enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot, dry summers and short, cool, rainy winters. This northern half of the country has a limited but adequate supply of water, except in times of drought. The Negev, however, is a semiarid desert region, having less than 10 in. (25 cm) of rainfall a year.

The most important river in Israel is the Jordan. Other smaller rivers are the Yarkon, the Kishon, and the Yarmuk, a tributary of the Jordan. Other bodies of water include the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (part of which belongs to neighboring Jordan). Owing to interior drainage and a high rate of evaporation, the waters of the Dead Sea have about eight times as much salt as the ocean.

The highest point in Israel is Mt. Hermon (7,336 ft/2,236m) near Zefat. The lowest point is the shore of the Dead Sea, which is 1,345 ft (410 m) below sea level, the lowest point on the surface of the earth. In addition to Jerusalem, other important cities include Tel Aviv– Jaffa (see separate entries on Tel Aviv, Jaffa), Haifa, Beersheba, and Netanya).

Israel proper is made up of about 75% Jews, about 20% Arabs, and 5% Druze and smaller minorities. While the Jewish population as of 1948 consisted mostly of those from central and Eastern Europe (not including Russia), Jews from African and Asian countries came in increasing numbers after 1948 and now constitute a majority of the Jewish population. The Arab population is 91% Sunni Muslim and 9% Christian. Hebrew, Arabic and English are all official languages. Israel has major universities in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, and Rehovot, as well as many smaller institutes of higher education located throughout the country.

Economy has a diversified modern economy with substantial government ownership and a rapidly Israel developing high-tech sector. Poor in natural resources, Israel depends on imports of oil, coal, food, uncut diamonds, other production inputs, and military equipment. Its GDP in 2010 is estimated at $200 billion, or $29,500 per capita. The major industrial sectors include metal products, electronic and biomedical equipment, processed foods, chemicals, and transport equipment. Israel possesses a substantial service sector and is one of the world's centers for diamond cutting and polishing. It is also a world leader in software development and is a major tourist destination.

Israel's strong commitment to economic development and its talented work force led to economic growth rates during the nation's first two decades that frequently exceeded

10% annually. The years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War were a lost decade economically, as growth stalled and inflation reached triple-digit levels. The successful economic stabilization plan implemented in 1985 and the subsequent introduction of market-oriented structural reforms reinvigorated the economy and paved the way for its rapid growth in the 1990s.

Two developments have helped to transform Israel's economy since the beginning of the decade. The first is the wave of Jewish immigration, predominantly from the countries of the former U.S.S.R., which brought some 841,000 new citizens to Israel. These new immigrants, many of them highly educated, now constitute some 16% of Israel's 6.9 million population. Their successful absorption into Israeli society and its labor force forms a remarkable chapter in Israeli history. The skills brought by the new immigrants and their added demand as consumers have given the Israeli economy a strong upward push.

The second development benefiting the Israeli economy is the Mideast peace process begun at the Madrid conference of October 1991, which led to the signing of accords between Israel and the Palestinians and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. The peace process has helped to ease Israel's economic isolation from its neighbors and has begun a process of regional economic integration that may help to stabilize the region. It has also opened up new markets to Israeli exporters farther afield, such as in the rapidly growing countries of East Asia. The peace process has stimulated an unprecedented inflow of foreign investment in Israel, as companies that formerly shunned the Israeli market now see its potential contribution to their global strategies.

Israeli companies, particularly in the high-tech area, have recently enjoyed considerable success raising money on Wall Street and other world financial markets; Israel now ranks second among foreign countries in the number of its companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges.

The United States is Israel's largest trading partner; two-way trade totaled some $12.6 billion in 1997. The principal U.S. exports to Israel include computers, integrated circuits, aircraft parts and other defense equipment, wheat, and automobiles. Israel's chief exports to the U.S. include cut diamonds, jewelry, integrated circuits, printing machinery, and telecommunications equipment. The two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in 1985 that progressively eliminated tariffs on most goods traded between the two countries over the following ten years. An agricultural trade accord was signed in November 1996, which addressed the remaining goods not covered in the FTA. Some non-tariff barriers and tariffs on goods remain, however. Israel also has trade and cooperation agreements in place with the European Union and Canada.

Israel is one of the world's major exporters of military equipment, accounting for 10% of the world total in 2003.

Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), often abbreviated Tsahal, is the Hebrew name of Israel's armed forces (Tsahal comprises the Israel army, Israel air force and Israel navy). It was formed following the founding of Israel in 1948 to "defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel" and "to protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life." The predecessors to the IDF were the Haganah (in particular, its operational branch, the Palmach) and former elements of the Jewish Brigade that fought under the British Flag during World War II. See also Jewish legion.

After the establishment of the IDF, the two Jewish underground organizations the Etzel and Lehi joined with the IDF in a loose conferderation, but were allowed to operate independently in some sectors until the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war; after which these two organizations were eventually disbanded.

High command: The IDF falls under the command of a single general staff. The Chief of the General Staff (pronounced: Ramatkal) has the rank of (Lieutenant) General (pronounced: "Rav Aluf") and is the high commander of the IDF. He answers to the Defense minister and the Prime minister. The current chief of staff is Lieutenant General (Rav-Aluf) Benny Gantz.

Service and manpower: National military service is compulsory for Jewish men and women over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious, physical, or psychological grounds. Israel is the only country which currently has female conscription. The fact that an increasing number of people in the Haredi community are exempt has been a source of tension in Israeli society. Members of the Druze minority also serves in the IDF. In recent years, some Druze officers have reached positions in the IDF as high as Major General. Israeli Arabs, with few exceptions, are not required to serve, though they may volunteer. Six Israeli Arabs have received orders of distinction as a part of their military service; of them the most famous is a Bedouin officer, Lieutenant Colonel Abd El-Amin Hajer (also known as Amos Yarkoni), who received the Order of Distinction. Recently, a Bedouin officer was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Men serve three years in the IDF, as do the women in combat positions, while women in non- combat positions serve two. The IDF requires women who volunteer for combat positions to serve for three years because combat soldiers must undergo a lengthy period of training, and it is in the interests of the IDF to get as much use of that training as possible. In addition, men serve up to one month annually of reserve service, up to the age of 43-45. No direct social benefits are tied to completion of military service, but doing it is sometimes required for attaining security clearance and serving in some types of government positions (in most cases, security-related); Israeli Arabs claim, however, that this puts them at a disadvantage.

Expenditures and alliances: During 1950-66, Israel spent an average of 9% of its GDP on defense. Defense expenditures increased dramatically after both the 1967 and 1973 wars. In 1996, the military budget reached 10.6% of GDP and represented about 21.5% of the total 1996 budget.

In 1983, the United States and Israel established a Joint Political Military Group, which convenes twice a year. Both the U.S. and Israel participate in joint military planning and combined exercises, and have collaborated on military research and weapons development. Israel has the official distinction of being a US Major Non-NATO Ally. As a result of this, America shares the vast majority of its security and military technology with Israel.

Government

Israel has no constitution; it is governed under the 1948 Declaration of Establishment as well as parliamentary and citizenship laws. The government consists of a legislature (the Knesset), a president, a prime minister, and the cabinet. The Knesset has a single chamber with 120 seats. The president is elected by the Knesset. The prime minister appoints a cabinet that must be approved by the Knesset; both are responsible to the Knesset. The country is divided into six administrative districts.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem (1994 pop. 578,800) is the capital of Israel. It is situated on a ridge 2,500 ft (760 m) high that lies west of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. Jerusalem is an administrative, religious, educational, cultural, and market center. Tourism and the construction of houses and hotels are the city's major industries. Manufactures include cut and polished diamonds, plastics, clothing, and shoes, and electronic printing and other high- technology industries have been developed. The city is served by road, rail, and air transport.

Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Often under the name of Zion, it figures prominently in Jewish and Christian literature as a symbol of the capital of the Messiah. Jerusalem's churches and shrines are legion. The traditional identifications vary in reliability from certainty (such as Gethsemane) to pious supposition (such as the Tomb of the Virgin). The most famous and most difficult identification is that of Calvary. Excavations have been made in Jerusalem since 1835, and after 1967, the Israelis increased this activity, uncovering remains of the Herodian period and ruins of a Muslim structure of the 7th or 8th cent. Many of Jerusalem's original streets, including the main Cardo, have been excavated and turned into tourist sites.

The Old City: The eastern part of Jerusalem is the Old City, a quadrangular area built on two hills and surrounded by a wall completed in 1542 by the Ottoman sultan Sulayman I. Within the wall are four quarters. The Muslim quarter, in the east, contains a sacred enclosure, the Haram esh- Sherif (known as the Temple Mount to Jews), within which, built on the old Mt. Moriah, are the Dome of the Rock (completed 691), or Mosque of Omar, and the Mosque of al-Aksa. The wall of the Haram incorporates the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, a remnant of the retaining wall of 44

the Second Temple and a holy place for Jews. Nearby and southwest of the Haram is the Jewish quarter, with several famous old synagogues. Partially destroyed in previous Arab-Israeli fighting, the Old City was captured in 1967 by the Israelis, who began to rebuild and renovate the Jewish quarter. To the west of the Jewish quarter is the Armenian quarter, site of the Gulbenkian Library. The Christian quarter occupies the northern and northwestern parts of the Old City. Its greatest monument is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Through the area runs the Via Dolorosa, along which Jesus is said to have carried his cross.

The New City and Other Districts: The New City, extending west and southwest of the Old City, has developed tremendously since the 19th cent. It is the site of several educational institutions, as well as the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and other government buildings (including the striking Supreme Court building, which opened in 1992). Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Holocaust, is also in that section of the city. To the east of the Old City is the Valley of the Kidron, beyond which lie the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. To the north is Mt. Scopus, a Jewish intellectual center that is the site of the Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew Univ., and the Jewish National Library. Another campus of Hebrew Univ. is located on the western edge of the city at Ein Karem. From 1948 to 1967, Mt. Scopus was an Israeli exclave in Arab territory. To the west and south of the Old City runs the Valley of Hinnom; this meets the Kidron near the pool of Siloam, which is next to the site of the original city of Jerusalem, now partly excavated and called the City of David.

Cultural and Educational Institutions: Jerusalem has numerous museums; one of the finest is the Israel Museum, in the New City, whose collection ranges from the contemporary art to displays of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The city is the seat of Hebrew Univ., the British School of Archaeology, the Dominican Fathers' Convent of St. Étienne, with the attached Bible School and French Archaeological School, the American College, the Greek Catholic Seminary of St. Anne, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, the Swedish Theological Institute, the Near East School of Archaeology, the Rubin Academy of Music, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Early History to 1900: Despite incomplete archaeological work, it is evident that Jerusalem was settled as far back as the 4th millennium B.C. In the late Bronze Age (2000–1550 B.C.), it was a Jebusite (Canaanite) stronghold. David captured it (c.1000 B.C.) from the Jebusites and walled the city. After Solomon built the Temple on Mt. Moriah in the 10th cent. B.C., Jerusalem became the spiritual and political capital of the Hebrews. In 586 B.C. it fell to the Babylonians, and the Temple was destroyed.

The city was restored to Hebrew rule later in the 6th cent. B.C. by Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. The Temple was rebuilt (538–515 B.C.; known as the Second Temple) by Zerubbabel, a governor of Jerusalem under the Persians. In the mid-5th cent. B.C., Ezra reinvigorated the Jewish community in Jerusalem. The city was the capital of the Maccabees in the 2d and 1st cent. B.C. After Jerusalem had been taken for the Romans by Pompey, it became the capital of the Herod dynasty, which ruled under the aegis of Rome. The Roman emperor Titus ruined the city and

destroyed the Temple (A.D. 70) in order to punish and discourage the Jews. After the revolt of Bar Kokba (A.D. 132–35), Hadrian rebuilt the city as a pagan shrine called Aelia Capitolina but forbade Jews to live on the site.

With the imperial toleration of Christianity (from 313), Jerusalem underwent a revival, greatly aided by St. Helena, who sponsored much building in the early 4th cent. Since that time Jerusalem has been a world pilgrimage spot. Muslims, who believe that the city was visited by Muhammad, treated Jerusalem favorably after they captured it in 637, making it the chief shrine after Mecca. From 688 to 691 the Dome of the Rock mosque was constructed.

In the 11th century the Fatimids began to hinder Christian pilgrims; their destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher helped bring on the Crusades. Jerusalem was conquered by the Crusaders in 1099 and for most of the 12th cent. Was the capital of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1187, Muslims under Saladin recaptured the city. Thereafter, under Mamluk and then Ottoman rule, Jerusalem was rebuilt and restored (especially by Sulayman I); but by the late 16th cent. it was declining as a commercial and religious center.

In the early 19th cent., Jerusalem began to revive. The flow of Christian pilgrims increased, and churches, hospices, and other institutions were built. Jewish immigration accelerated (especially from the time of the Egyptian occupation of Jerusalem by Muhammad Ali in 1832–41), and by 1900, Jews made up the largest community in the city and expanded settlement outside the Old City walls.

The Twentieth Century: In 1917, during World War I, Jerusalem was captured by British forces under Gen. Edmund Allenby. After the war it was made the capital of the British- held League of Nations Palestine mandate (1922–48). As the end of the mandate approached, Arabs and Jews both sought to hold sole possession of the city. Most Christians favored a free city open to all religions. This view prevailed in the United Nations, which, in partitioning Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, declared that Jerusalem and its environs (including Bethlehem) would be an internationally administered enclave in the projected Arab state. Even before the partition went into effect (May 14, 1948), fighting between Jews and Arabs broke out in the city. On May 28, the Jews in the Old City surrendered. The New City remained in Jewish hands. The Old City and all areas held by the Arab Legion (East Jerusalem) were annexed by Jordan in April, 1949. Israel responded by retaining the area it held. On Dec. 14, 1949, the New City of Jerusalem was made the capital of Israel.

In the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israeli forces took the Old City. The Israeli government then formally annexed the Old City and placed all of Jerusalem under a unified administration. Arab East Jerusalemites were offered regular Israeli citizenship but chose to maintain their status as Jordanians. Israel transferred many Arabs out of the Old City but promised access to the holy places to people of all religions. In July, 1980, Israel's parliament approved a bill affirming Jerusalem as the nation's capital. With suburbanization and housing developments in formerly Jordanian-held territory, Jerusalem has become Israel's largest city. Strife between Arabs and 46

Jews persists. The issue of the status of East Jerusalem annexed by Israel but regarded by Palestinians as the eventual capital of their own state, remains difficult. In 1998, Israel announced a controversial plan to expand Jerusalem by annexing nearby towns.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Tel Aviv-Yafo (2004 pop. 371,000) is an Israeli city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Tel Aviv is also part of a major metropolitan area in Israel, known as Gush Dan ("Dan Aggregate"). The larger metropolitan area comprises a number of separate municipalities with around 3.2 million people living in the 14 km sprawl along the Mediterranean coast and around 410,000 in Tel Aviv-Yafo itself, making it the second largest city in Israel. Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya are the other major cities in the area known as Gush Dan.

The name "Tel Aviv" in Hebrew means hill of spring, the title given to the Hebrew translation of Theodor Herzl's book Altneuland or Oldnewland; the name "Tel Aviv" was borrowed by the translator, Nahum Sokolov, from the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 3, Verse 15: "Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel Aviv, that lived by the river Chebar, and to where they lived; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days."

History: The settlement in the area of modern Southern Tel Aviv (neighborhoods of Neve Shalom and Neve Tsedek) was started in the 1880s as a substitute for the rather expensive Arab neighborhoods of Jaffa. However the city of Tel Aviv itself was established only in 1909 as Ahuzat Bayit and was later renamed to Tel Aviv. At its founding, Tel Aviv was intended only to be a suburb, a bedroom community, with the workers commuting to Jaffa. However, a dispute broke out between the Jews of Tel Aviv and the Arabs of Jaffa in 1921 or thereabouts, and this led the denizens of Tel Aviv to create a new central business district. Owing to its proximity to the port of Jaffa, and its status as the first Jewish community that immigrants saw when coming into the country, Tel Aviv quickly grew to become the center of Israeli urban life, and it remained so to this day.

In 1950 Tel Aviv and Jaffa were united in a single municipality - Tel Aviv-Yafo. For a period of 8 months (May through December 1948) during Arab blockade of Jerusalem it also served as the temporary de facto capital of Israel. Though Israel subsequently designated Jerusalem to be its capital, that designation was regarded by most countries as a breach of international law and not accepted by them. This includes international state organizations, all of whom continue to regard Tel Aviv as the de jure Israeli capital. However, many countries held their embassies in 47

Jerusalem up until early 1980s, when the Knesset passed the basic law "Jerusalem - Capital of Israel" which defines Jerusalem as the indivisible capital of Israel. This finally led to the moving of most embassies out of Jerusalem to other Israeli cities (among them Tel Aviv). This act was done as a protest, in co-operation with the UN resolution, and does not imply change in recognition of Israel's capital. The Congress of the United States recognized Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, but the president was given permission to prevent the moving of the US embassy from Tel Aviv.

Culture: There are many cultural centers in Tel Aviv, including the Opera House and the "Culture Hall" (with a 3,000 seat concert hall). Tel Aviv also has many theatre companies and theatre halls, the HaBima ("The Stage") is the most recognized. Tel Aviv has many museums and art galleries. The Eretz Israel Museum is known for its rich collection of archeology and history exhibits. The major art museum in Israel is the Tel Aviv Arts Museum. "Batey Haosef" Museum is a museum for the military history of the Israeli Defence Forces. It is regarded by many experts and arms collectors as a real jewel, containing rare exhibits and authentic pieces from Israel's history as well as a wide variety of firearms and pictures. The Palmach Museum near Tel Aviv University offers a unique multimedia experience, as well as vast archives, depicting the lives of young self- trained Jewish soldiers who eventually became the first defenders of Israel. Near Charles Clore's garden in north Jaffa there is a small museum for the Etzel, who conquered Jaffa in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Located on the campus of TAU is the Diaspora Museum, dedicated to Jewish history throughout the world. It explains through historical documentation and art how Jews have both prospered and been persecuted for centuries while away from their homeland.

In July 2003, Tel Aviv's White City was announced unanimously by the UNESCO council as a World Heritage Site, due to its massive assemblage of the Bauhaus International Style buildings, the city's most precious architectural style.

Fun Facts: “Did You Know?”

Israel, the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can lay claim to the following:

1. The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

2. Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft- Israel.

3. The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.

4. Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.

5. The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.

6. Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.

7. Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.

8. The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.

9. Israel has the fourth largest air force in the world (after the U.S., Russia and China). In addition to a large variety of other aircraft, Israel's air force has an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16's. This is the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the US.

10. According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. U. S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

11. Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.

12. Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.

13. In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

14. With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world -- apart from the Silicon Valley, US.

15. Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.

16. Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

17. Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.

18. On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups.

19. Twenty-four per cent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees -- ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland - and 12 per cent hold advanced degrees.

20. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

21. In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia, to safety in Israel.

22. When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times.

23. When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day -- and saved three victims from the rubble.

24. Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship -- and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world.

25. Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.

26. Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free."

27. Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.

28. Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.

29. Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.

30. Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

31. An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes. 51

32. Israel's Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, the camera helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.

33. Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions, Israel places first in this category as well.

34. A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the ClearLight device, produces a high- intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self- destruct -- all without damaging surroundings skin or tissue.

35. Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.

36. An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar- powered and fully functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave Desert.

37. Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

Things to do in Tel-Aviv (Adapted from http://www.telavivguide.net/telaviv/Attractions/ )

Tel-Aviv offers interesting areas to walk around, within short distance from our hotel.

Shuk Ha Carmel (The Carmel Market) and Nahlat Binyamin

Shuk HaCarmel is Tel-Aviv's main market and is bustling all days of the week (except Saturday), and especially so on Friday morning. The market is roughly divided into the food half where you can buy not only Israeli and middle-eastern delicacies but also Asian, South America, Russian and African foods, serving the large immigrant and migrant population living nearby , and the non-food stuff where you can buy clothing for dirt cheap price (quality is usually quite decent), Souvenirs and other small items.

Make sure you don't miss out on the places hiding behind those cloth booths. "The best Borekas place in town", many people would call this small Turkish Borekas booth, just in the entrance to the market, on your right. Borekas actually is originated in Bulgarian and Turkish cuisine, but Israel has claimed it to be its own. It is a salty pastry, usually puff pastry, filled with cheese, potato or spinach. Delicious when you eat it still warm from the heat of the oven. Here you will get it sliced up with a hard boiled egg, homemade pickles, tomatoes and a delicious spicy tomato paste - Quite heavenly!

Haggling is part of the game, and is expected and welcome. Nahlat Binyamin runs parallel to non- food section of the market, and on Tuesdays and Fridays offers Israel's largest artisan market – a must see experience! Shenkin Street

One of the nicest areas in Tel Aviv is the Shenkin area, with its Bauhaus buildings, local bars, restaurants, and lovely surrounding Boulevards. Shenkin St. offers an abundance of trendy coffee- shops, small restaurants and many designer shops. In the very middle of Shenkin Street, you will find a nice little garden where people sit playing chess or chatting. The little neighborhood, very much like Neve Tzedek, is a southern neighborhood gone posh. This area has the most beautifully restored Bauhaus buildings, a characteristic which is apparent when walking down Rothschild Blvd. or Montefiore Street and admiring the architecture.

The street starts where the market ends, at the Corner of Alenbi street. The recommended part is from the market to Rothschild Avenue.

Rothschild Avenue

Tel-Aviv's first street is also one of the pretties. The street with most Bauhaus style houses in Tel- Aviv, it has a unique kind of magic. Walking from Shenkin street, head west (right when coming from Alenbi), stop in one of the excellent cafés in the middle of the avenue (if you can get a seat!), or stop at the 24 hour Sushi place on the corner of Rothschild and Alenbi street. It is a lovely and pleasant area you could enjoy walking through, or even spending a quiet day in, relishing on its laid-back and peaceful atmosphere.

Neve Zedek

Neve Tzedek is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas in Tel Aviv.

The Neighborhood's History:

South of the Yemenite Quarter, Neve Tzedek was the first neighborhood built in the “new” city of Tel Aviv, back in 1887. At the beginning of the 20th century Neve Tzedek was the home of many artists and writers, such as Brenner and Agnon (a Nobel Prize winning author). But in the following years the area suffered from neglect, the old houses and streets crumbling away. Only in the 1980's, the place recaptured its former prestige, and has since become a stylish yuppie residence with plenty of restaurants, galleries and designer shops. The architecture of Neve Tzedek is definitely one of the highlights in the area. Beautiful old houses restored to grandeur by modern architects and designers.

Around the Neighborhood:

- One of the first houses in Neve Tzedek, which belonged to the well- known The Rokach House Rokach family. In the late 80's the house was restored by Lea Majaro Mintz, the granddaughter of the original owner.

- Tel Aviv's official dance center and home of the famous Bat- Sheva The Suzzane Dellal Center dance group. Besides offering excellent dance and theatre performances, there is a beautiful piazza and small gardens around the building.

- This house was the first house built in Neve Tzedek in 1886 by Aharon Chlouche. Chlouche House The house was sold to an Israeli business man and has been operating since 2003 as an art gallery hosting temporary exhibitions. Israelis would say it gives them a "European sensation", with its high ceilings and 19th century look. You can stand on the roof top, which has a gorgeous view of Neve Tzedek, while enjoying a light breeze from the sea.

There are many gorgeous little shops in the area, especially on Shabazi Street. You can find designer shops, children's clothes, art, pottery and many more boutique shops, which would make even the most reserved shopping fan ecstatic. You can get a bite to eat in the many cafes and restaurants in the area. Our favorites are Tazza D'oro -a small restaurant- cafe, and NG - a carnivore's heaven.

Useful English/Hebrew Phrases

ENGLISH HEBREW How to begin a conversation Hello Sha-lom Good morning Bo-ker Tov Good afternoon Tso-ra-yim To-vim Good evening Erev Tov Welcome Ba-ruch Ha-ba How are you? (M) Ma Sh'lom-cha How are you? (F) Ma Sh'lom-ech What's up? Ma Ha-een-ya-neem Pardon me/ Excuse me/Sorry! Slee-cha Sir Ah-do-nee Madame Gee-ve-ret My name is ______Sh’mi What's your name? (M) Ma Sheem-cha What's your name? (F) Ma Sh'mech I don't speak Hebrew (M) A-nee Lo Me-da-bear Eev-reet I don't speak Hebrew (F) A-nee Lo Me-da-bear-et Eev-reet How to end a conversation Thanks Todah So long Le-heet-ra-ot

Good Sabbath (on Friday) Sha-bbat Sha-lom Have a good week (on Sunday) Sha-vu-a Tov In the Restaurant Café bait café Restaurant mee-sa-da Please be-vak-a-sha Bottle bak-buk Water ma-yeem Wine ya-yeen Beer beera Orange juice meets ta-pu-zeem Coke (diet) cola (light) Tea tay Menu taf-reet Glass kos Wine glass kos ya-yeen Teaspoon ka-peet Fork maz-leg Knife sa-keen Salt mel-ach Black pepper peel-pel Napkin ma-peet I am a vegetarian. A-nee tseem-cho-nee I am allergic to ______A-nee ah-lair-gee le ____ Waiter mel-tsar (m) mel-sta-reet (f) I'd like a menu in English please Taf-reet be-an-gleet be-vak-a-sha Check, please! Chesh-bone, Be-vak-a-sha May I have Be-vak-a-sha la-tate lee

Directions/Transportation Right Ya-mean Left Smo-lah Entrance Ke-knee-saw Exit Yeh-tsee-ah Open Pa-too-ach Closed Sa-goor Where is? Ei-fo Which way? Beh Aye-zeh Key-voon Taxi Mo-neat Caution Z'hee-root Stop! Ah-tsor Queue/Line Tore Ticket Kar-tees Airport Sa-day Teh-oo-fah Customs Me-ches Gate Sha-are Flight Tee-sah Flight Number Mees-par Tee-sah Passport Dar-cone Luggage Meet-an Hotel Ma-loan Post Office Doe-are Money Keh-sef ATM Kas-po-matt

Basic Conversation Yes Cane No Lo Please Beh-vak-ah-sha Where is the bathroom? Ei-fo Ha-sheer-oo-team? How much (is this)? Ka-mah (zeh) Where? Ei-fo When? Ma-tai Which? Ai-zeh What is this? Ma-zeh How? Aich What's up? Ma ko-reh? Can I have… Ef-shar le-ka-bell I'd like to buy (M) A-nee ro-tseh leek-note I'd like to buy (F) A-knee ro-tsah leek-note__ Daily newspaper Ee-tone Yo-mee Hebrew Eev-reet English An-gleet I do not understand. Anee Lo Meh-veen Help! Ai-zrah I'm from the US. A-nee meh are-tsot ha-brit Do you speak English? Me-da-bear An-gleet? Bon Apetite! Be-tay-ah-von

Numbers 0 Eh-fes 1 Eh-chad 2 Shta-yeem 3 Sha-losh 4 Are-bah 5 Cha-maysh 6 Shesh 7 She-vah 8 Shmo-neh 9 Tay-sheh 10 Eh-ser Colors Pink Va-road Brown Chum Green Ya-rok Blue Ka-chol Orange Ka-tom White La-van Violet, Purple Se-gol Yellow Tsa-hov Black Sha-chor Red A-dome

Slang Let's go/C'mon Yalla Lets party Yalla Balagan Mess/party Balagan Bro Achi Sis Achoti Great! Ach-lah Great! Sa-bah-bah Someone who talks a lot Cho-fer Awesome person (M) To-Tach Awesome person (F) To-Tach-It My love Neshama Sheli My love (alt) Kapara