<p> Ness Ziona Municipality</p><p>To:Ness Ziona Municipality Address:9th Habanim St. Ness Ziona postal code 74071, Israel Tel:972-8-9383803 Fax:972-8-9300349 e-mailcontact us</p><p>Presiding Mayor – Joseph Shvo – since 1993 Number of Council Members: 15</p><p>Everything you need to know about Ness Ziona:</p><p>Population:………………..35,000 Jurisdiction:………………17,000 dunam (68,000 acres) Households:……………….10,500 Kindergartens:……………52 Elementary Schools:……...9 Junior High Schools:……..3 High Schools:……………...2 Academic Institutes:…...…1 Community Centers:……..5 Public Gardens:…………..50 Synagogues:……………….36 Youth Movements:………..5</p><p>Milestones in the history of the Ness Ziona:</p><p> 1883 – Year of foundation – first settlement on the land by Reuven Lerrer and his first born son Moshe.  1891 – The raising of the Zionist flag by Michael Halperin.  1898 – Dr. Binyamin Ze'ev Herzel visits Ness Ziona.  1907 – The unification of Nachalat Reuven, Tel-Aviv and the Moshava.  1949 – Ness Ziona is acknowledged as a Local Council.  1992 - Ness Ziona is acknowledged as a City.</p><p>Geographic Location:</p><p>Ness Ziona is situated at the center of Israel's costal plane. To the north, it borders with the city of Rishon Lezion, to the east, it borders with Kibbutz Netzer Sirani and Be'er Ya'akov, to the west it borders with the Local Council of Gan Raveh and to the south it borders with the City of Rechovot.</p><p>Special sites to visit:</p><p>The primary track includes a tour to the historic sites of the Moshava of Ness Ziona. Tourists will visit ten signposts station in the city's center, following the footsteps of the founding families.</p><p>Events / Festivals:</p><p>During March we hold the Ness Ziona parade in the memory of Abraham Elazar as well as the Ness Ziona race in the memory of Yoram Gilboa; Bicycle race during Independence Day; the National Tap Dancing festival in Lag Ba'omer and the kite festival in November.</p><p>Twin Cities:</p><p>Solingen and Freiburg in Germany, Grand – Quil in France, Qingdao in China.</p><p>The source of the name:</p><p>The name is a quote taken out of a verse in the book of Jeremiah. The words "Ness Ziona" were embroidered in gold letters upon the "Blue and White" flag raised by Michael Halperin, one of Ness Ziona first settlers. The flag eventually became the representing flag of the State of Israel.</p><p>The biblical verse:</p><p>"Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not" Jeremiah 4:6. NESS ZIONA – THE CITY THAT RAISED THE BLUE AND WHITE FLAG</p><p>The story of Ness Ziona is the story of the Israeli people and the State. Ness Ziona’s roots are from the early days of agriculture in Israel, as a first venture of the Founder, Reuven Lerer together with the early Labor Union.</p><p>This is where the struggle of the Jews for Independence and existence began, with the establishment of the Jewish Protection Force by Michael Halperin, and the raising of the blue and white flag, later to become the national flag, for the first time.</p><p>Today Ness Ziona is “a city with the heart of a village” which, under the leadership of Mayor Joseph Shvo, continues the traditions of its founding fathers and leads the way in volunteering, fellowship and education to values.</p><p>Ness Ziona is a green retreat south of Tel Aviv, surrounded by orchards and honey fields alongside high-tech industrial parks.</p><p>Information updated on September 2008.</p>