November 2009
November 25, 2009
TOURISM MINISTRY TO INVEST 15 MILLION NIS IN DEVELOPING TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IN JERUSALEM IN 2010, IN LINE WITH THE WORK PLAN AND NEW POSITIONING OF ISRAEL AS THE HOLY LAND WITH JERUSALEM AT ITS CENTER
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “IN ORDER TO MEET OUR GOAL OF AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION TOURISTS WITHIN 3 YEARS, WE WILL INVEST IN THE JERUSALEM BRAND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR NEW MARKETS INTERNATIONALLY AND FOR THE ISRAELI VISITOR.”
The Tourism Ministry will invest 15 million NIS in 2010 in developing tourism infrastructure in Jerusalem and promoting tourism events in order to encourage domestic and incoming tourism. This is in line with the new work plan presented by the Tourism Minister which positions Israel as the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center.
In recent years, the Tourism Ministry has invested tens of millions of shekels in developing and improving the tourism infrastructure in Jerusalem, including the center of the city, Ein Kerem and the Old City. The additional 15 million shekel investment in the city in 2010 will facilitate an increase in the scope of tourism activities as well as the implementation of infrastructure works that will facilitate the entry of more tourists and visitors at various sites.
In addition, the ministry will encourage domestic and incoming tourism by raising awareness of various tourist events and festivals taking place in Jerusalem. The Tourism Ministry has allocated 350,000 NIS (similar to the investment of the Jerusalem Municipality) to support Hamshushalayim, the three weekend festival taking place in Jerusalem and organized by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Hotels Association. (www.jerusalem.muni.il/Humshsh/eng/all.htm)
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “Jerusalem is Israel’s central tourism brand, representing the main attraction and focus for most incoming tourists. In order to meet our goal of an additional million tourists within three years, we will invest in this important brand over the next few years in order to make it attractive for new markets internationally and for the Israeli visitor.”
The festival includes special tours of the city, musical performances, theater, arts and crafts fairs, tourist attractions, a culinary festival and special discounts in restaurants and hotels, with targeted activities for students and youth. Jerusalem is the most visited city in Israel. According to the Tourism Ministry, 74% of all tourists visited Jerusalem, with 53% spending at least one night in the capital and an average of six nights. The most visited sites within Jerusalem are the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, the Tower of David and Yad Vashem.
(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)
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November 17, 2009
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV SIGNED TWO AGREEMENTS WITH THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL: A TOURISM AGREEMENT AND
AN EXTRADITION AGREEMENT
MISEZHNIKOV, WHO IS ACCOMPANYING THE PRESIDENT ON HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA: "THE TOURISM MINISTRY SEES GREAT IMPORTANCE IN STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BOTH IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE TOURISM TO ISRAEL AND TO PROMOTE COOPERATION IN VARIOUS AREAS."
The Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, who is currently visiting Brazil and Argentina as a member of the official delegation of the President of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres, signed yesterday a tourism agreement and an extradition agreement with the government of Brazil. This is the first working visit in a decade of an Israeli Tourism Minister to South America.
The Tourism Ministers noted, on signing the agreement, that both countries recognize the power of the tourism industry to improve the quality of life of their respective citizens and the importance of the tourism industry to promote peace and mutual understanding.
The tourism agreement is intended to grow tourism traffic between the two countries, while expanding joint activities with wholesalers and upgrading the connections with new and existing airline companies in order to remove obstacles and increase seat capacity. The addition of the Tel Aviv-Sao Paolo route by El Al in May 2009 contributed significantly to increased marketing capacity and tourism traffic from this corner of the world.
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: "The Tourism Ministry sees great importance in strengthening ties with the South American countries, both in order to encourage tourism to Israel and to promote cooperation in various areas. The Tourism Ministry will increase its activities over the next few years with the major source countries for incoming tourism, while expanding activities in other countries including South America. This activity will focus on removing obstacles, strengthening connections and implementing focused marketing activities to realize the tourism potential from these countries."
During the visit, the Tourism Minister will meet with heads of the local tourism industry, leading personalities in the Jewish, Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities, decision makers and journalists.
(Courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism)
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November 16, 2009
Coins from the Temple Mount
A New Exhibition of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Davidson Center
In addition to rare ancient coins that were uncovered in the region, a 2,000 year old sarcophagus lid engraved with the inscription “Ben HaCohen HaGadol” will be presented to the public for the first time
A very special exhibition opens Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden. For the first time the general public will be able to be see all of the different kinds of coins that were uncovered in excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount – the most ancient of which are more than 2,000 years old.
The exhibition was organized by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which together with the East Jerusalem Development Company, views it as the first of many other changing archaeological exhibitions that will be presented in the compound.
The coins, which were uncovered in the numerous excavations there and are on display in the exhibition, are a living tangible testimony of Jerusalem’s rich history and it being a focus of pilgrimage for thousand years. Among the many artifacts on display are a rare collection of 2,000 year old coins that were burnt during the Great Revolt by the Jews (in which the Second Temple was destroyed), unique coins that were minted in Jerusalem during this period, as well as those that were found in different excavations in the region and have a wide geographic provenance (from Persia, via North Africa and as far France), a fact that attests to the centrality of Jerusalem for all of the people who visited it thousands of years ago while leaving behind a “souvenir” in the area. Another interesting aspect presented in the exhibition is the difference between the Jewish coins and the rest of the coins. Contrary to pagan coins, the ruler was usually not depicted on Jewish coins due to the Jewish abstention from portraying images (“You shall not make for yourself a graven image or likeness of anything…”). For that reason, a variety of inanimate symbols, such as a wreath, scepter and helmet, appear on many Jewish coins.
Another extraordinary find that is to be presented to the public for the first time is a very rare shekel that was minted by the rebels during the last months of the revolt, in the year 70 CE.
In addition, a fragment of a large sarcophagus lid is to be displayed for the first time in the Davidson Center. It was found in excavations north of Jerusalem and is engraved with an inscription in square script that is characteristic of the Second Temple period. The lid is meticulously fashioned and the carved inscription on it reads: “…Ben HaCohen HaGadol…” (son of the high priest). Numerous high priests served in the temple during the latter part of the Second Temple period and there is no way of knowing which of the high priests the inscription refers to. However, it should probably be identified with one of the priests who officiated there between the years 30 and 70 CE. Among the high priests we know of from the end of the Second Temple period are Caiaphas the priest, Theophilus (Yedidiya) Ben Hanan, Simon Ben Boethus, Hanan Ben Hanan and others. The excavations were conducted by the Unit of the Archaeological Staff Officer of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, under the direction of Naftali Aizik and Benyamin Hareven, within the framework of the salvage excavations along the separation fence that were conducted with funding provided by the Ministry of Defense.
The exhibitions were underwritten with a generous contribution by the William Davidson and Estanne Fawer Foundation.
(Entrance to the exhibit is included in the cost of the admission ticket to the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden – Davidson Center (located between Dung Gate and the Western Wall plaza).
(Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority Spokesperson)
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November 3, 2009
A Marble Hoard was Exposed in an Archaeological Excavation in Akko
Some 350 rare pieces of marble that were collected from ancient buildings were buried beneath the floor of a room from the Crusader period and attest to the wealth of Akko 800 years ago.
Edna Stern, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The marble was concealed like one would bury a jar with gold coins. It seems that the owner was in fear of impending danger”.
In an excavation that was recently conducted c. 100 meters north of the Old City wall of Akko, a unique find was discovered from the Crusader period (the thirteenth century CE) – a hoard of 350 marble items that were collected from buildings that had been destroyed.
The hoard was found within the framework of an archaeological excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority before the Akko Municipality began building a new structure to house classrooms in the Hilmi Shafi Educational Campus.
According to Dr. Edna Stern, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “We have here a unique find, the likes of which have never been discovered in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the Crusader period (the capital of which was Akko). During the archaeological excavations we came upon a cellar that was sealed by collapse comprised of building stones and charred beams. Beneath the cellar floor a hoard of c. 350 marble items and colored stones was discovered, including two broken marble tombstones with Latin inscriptions (one belonging to a person by the name of Maratinus), flat marble slabs and marble tiles of various sizes and colors, etc. Some extraordinary items were also found, among them a large stone cross and a large fragment of porphyry (a rare precious purple stone, which has been the color of royalty from Roman times). The quality of the marble is excellent and it was undoubtedly imported from abroad.”
Dr. Stern added, “Everyone knows that Crusader Akko was an important center for international trade and the marble hoard reflects the magnificent buildings that were erected here but have not survived, as well as also the commerce and the wealth of its residents. Just as there is a trend today to incorporate wooden doors from India or roof tiles from old buildings in Italy in modern villas, at that time they used to integrate ancient architectural items from the Roman and Byzantine periods in their construction. And just like today, people at that time also yearned for the classic and the exotic. We know from written sources that they bought and sold such stones, which were exceptionally valuable, to be reused in buildings. We can assume that the owner of the hoard, whether he was a merchant or he collected the stones for his own construction, was aware of impending danger and therefore buried the valuable stones until such time as the tension abated.
However, the cache of stones was not sold in the end. According to Stern, “We can reasonably assume that the collapse that was found above the hoard is evidence of the building’s destruction in 1291 CE, when Crusader Akko was conquered by the Mamluks and was completely devastated”.
The marble hoard was removed from the field and transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority for further study.
( Israel Antiquities Authority Spokesperson)
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