2,000 years of water in Jerusalem

A spectacular arched bridge that was part of the ancient aqueduct which conveyed water to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem was exposed in archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted near the Sultan's Pool.

Work on the city's modern water infrastructure uncovered a section of Jerusalem's ancient aqueduct. While the Gihon Corporation was working on the sewage infrastructure in the vicinity of the Sultan's Pool in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, a section of Jerusalem's ancient aqueduct was discovered.

In the wake of this discovery, the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted an excavation in which a spectacular arched bridge was revealed that was part of the very old aqueduct that conveyed water to the Temple Mount.

According to Yehiel Zelinger, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The bridge, which could still be seen at the end of the 19th century and appears in old photographs, was covered over during the twentieth century. We were thrilled when it suddenly reappeared in all its grandeur during the course of the archaeological excavations."

Zelinger said, "The route of the low level aqueduct from the time of the Second Temple, beginning at Solomon's Pools near Bethlehem and ending at the Temple Mount, is well known to scholars: substantial parts of it were documented along the edge of Yemin Moshe neighborhood and on the slope adjacent to the western wall of the Old City. The upper part of the Hinnom Valley passes between the two sections of aqueduct where the Sultan's Pool was built as a reservoir for flood water. In order to maintain the elevation of the path along which the water flowed, a bridge was erected above the ravine. Two of the original nine arches that were in the bridge were currently excavated to their full height of about three meters."

"The bridge was built in 1320 CE (in the Mamluke period) by Sultan Nasser al-Din Muhammed Ibn Qalawun, as evidenced by the dedicatory inscription set in it; however, it was apparently constructed to replace an earlier bridge dating to the time of the Second Temple period that was part of the original aqueduct."

The Israel Antiquities Authority, in cooperation with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, is working to expose the entire length of the arched bridge, conserve it and integrate it in the framework of the overall development of the Sultan's Pool, as part of underscoring the importance of the water supply to Jerusalem in ancient times.

The Gihon Corporation, whose name preserves that of Jerusalem's ancient source of water, is assisting in funding excavations that uncover Jerusalem's ancient water systems.

(Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
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May 4, 2010

TOURISM MINISTRY ALLOCATES NIS 34 MILLION TO SPRING-SUMMER MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROMOTING ISRAEL AS AN ATTRACTIVE AND VARIED TOURISM DESTINATION

TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “TO REACH THE TARGET OF 4 MILLION TOURISTS IN 2012 REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE MARKETING BUDGET”

The Tourism Ministry will increase its marketing efforts worldwide over the coming months with an investment of 34 million shekel in order to leverage the positive trend that has been registered in incoming tourism over the last few months, and to position Israel as an attractive tourism destination. The ministry is working toward a target of about 1.5 million tourists over the May-September period, within the three-year program which aims to bring an additional million tourists to Israel by 2012.

The Tourism Ministry is about to launch a three-month advertising campaign in those countries which represent the main sources for incoming tourism – USA, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, UK, Sweden and Holland. The advertisements will promote Israel as a varied and attractive tourism destination – within the framework of the competition with other countries in the region for the tourist’s affection.

As part of the advertising campaign, Israel will promote the many opportunities for sightseeing, entertainment, vacation and leisure that co-exist in Israel to reflect Israel’s positioning as the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its center, which appeals to tourists interested in religion, history and culture. The advertising, which will concentrate on sites in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Eilat and additional tourist areas such as the Galilee and Negev, is aimed at different target groups including religious audiences, niche tourism such as culinary and wine, wellness, extreme sport and others. The ads will appear in print, billboards, tourism and trade press, the broadcast media and extensive use of the internet and social media.  Examples from the new ad campaign are attached. Above the line advertising will be complemented by marketing activities aimed at the local tourism industry in the source countries, including recruiting new wholesalers and expanding the existing base of those marketing Israel, arranging seminars and working in the field with travel agents and decision-formers such as the clergy and other community leaders, activities with airline companies to investigate possibilities of opening up new routes and expanding existing ones, PR activities etc.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The recovery of incoming tourism in recent months has been one of the fastest in the Israeli economy and has contributed to the state coffers and to the creation of new jobs. In order to meet the challenges that face the ministry – the target of 3.3 million tourists in 2010 and 4 million in 2012 and the difficult competition with other countries in the region that invest huge amounts in tourism development, infrastructure and marketing – the marketing budget must be significantly increase over the next two years.”

(Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Tourism)