Israeli towns

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, for a city that was only started 100 years ago has grown into the cultural capital of Israel. Israel's very own 'city that never sleeps'.

Tel Aviv has a huge varitey for a city of only 3 million people (London has 7 million). You can spend the morning wandering the old port of Jaffa with its flea market, selling everything from fine art to used batteries. Have lunch in one of the many malls, the Azrieli Center is located in a circular tower next to a square and triangular one (rumours have it that they are going to build one shaped like a cross and call it the Playstation Towers). Finally you can while away the warm summers evening relaxing on the beach as you watch the sun set over the Med. Who could think of a better way to spend their days.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is not only the postcard city of Israel, with its lovely glistening dome and ancient architecture, but is also the political centre, being home to the Knesset (the Israeli house of parliament), the Supreme Court and many major national organisations.

Jerusalem is of significance to three main world religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. For Judaism, Jerusalem is home to Mount Moriah, the site where Abraham was sent to sacrifice his son Isaac, and is also where the ‘Tabernacles’ were brought under David and Solomon, with the Western Wall from the Second Temple still standing. For Christianity, aside from the obvious Old Testament relevance, Jerusalem is the site where Jesus conducted his Last Supper, and for Islam, Jerusalem is the site from where Mohammed ascended to Heaven.

Jerusalem, throughout history, has witnessed many changes in power and control, and even today, its status is one of the most-hotly debated topics in the Middle East. In 1947, the UN Partition Plan recommended a special regime in the city controlled by the UN, but in the War of Independence that followed, Jordan and Israel fought for control of the city. Between 1948-1967, the city was split but in 196, Israel recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem, with emotional scenes of paratroopers finally getting to the Western Wall.

Haifa

With Mount Carmel and the Mediterranean sea,

Haifa was always going to be popular for biblical

families. In fact, it was so attractive that in 1799

Napoleon Bonaparte captured it in his unsuccessful

 attempt to capture Palestine. Haif today is

well-known for its university, the Technion, and its

 modern port, but also, idealists flock to Haifa to

see Wadi-Nisnas, the area where Jews and Muslims live side by side in a utopian example that some dream of all over Israel. Also, the German Colony has lovely fairy lights in its trees.

Eilat

Despite accounts that Eilat was set up by North London parents as a place to go for their winter holidays, Eilat’s history is actually very relevant. It’s first mentioned as a stop-off point for the Children of Israel when they left Egypt.

In modern history, Eilat was the scene of an interesting story. During the War of Independence, two Israeli units, the Golani and Negev, were sent, via separate routes, to capture the town of Umm Rashrash (later renamed Eilat). They raced to see which unit could get there first. The Negev unit won, but all they found was a deserted police station. When they got there, they were met with no resistance – in fact, the area was deserted. This was the last operation of the war, so to declare that the war was over, it was tradition to raise a flag. However, they didn’t have one so they quickly made an Israeli flag using some ink that they had.

Dimona

Dimona is a small town in the south of Israel, and is famous for two reasons. Firstly, it is widely accepted that Israel’s nuclear facility is there, and also, Dimona is home to the Black Hebrews. Their leader, Ben Ammi, grew up in the USA, and there developed the African Hebrew Israelites group. In 1969, five families were sent to Israel, and since then their number has grown. However, difficulties have arisen as the Israeli authorities do not see them as Jewish, and so they do not qualify for the benefits under the Law of Return.