Akko: Fishing boats in the bay, with the old Mediterranean sea wall

The Exhibition Focuses on Special Moments of Prayer by Artists of Various Faiths

A new group exhibition called Prayer has recently opened in the Okashi Art Museum in the Old City of Akko.  The exhibition features Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, and Hindu artists using still photography and video exhibits to focus on special moments of prayer in Israel and other areas around the world.

Open to the public, the Prayer exhibit runs alongside other temporary exhibitions of contemporary Israeli art, as well as the permanent exhibitions of the late Israeli artist Avshalom Okashi, whose works were inspired by the scenery, human landscape and spirituality of Israel.

Akko: Old Mediterranean sea wall and promenade

The Old City of Akko has been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist destination for visitors to northern Israel. Tourism Commission, North and South America, Haim Gutin, says that “Akko is one of the most important cities of ancient times and has so much to offer all travelers. The remains of various cultures make Akko a distinct combination of art and religion.”

Akko has a unique blend of East and West, featuring the colorful Oriental Bazaar, historical buildings dating back to Roman times, including Ottoman-era buildings, the subterranean Crusader city, Turkish baths, Templars Tunnel, an ancient fishing port, and much more.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web - IsraelTours.com
Phone – 973 535-2575
Email -  info@israeltours.com

The Western Wall Tunnel

Faith, culture and history join together at the Western Wall in a special way that makes Israel unique. Revered as the last remnant of the Second Temple, The Western Wall is Judaism’s most sacred site. Thanks to King Solomon and his invitation for everyone (1 King 8:41-42) “to turn here in prayer,” visitors of all faiths and cultures can feel a special bond.

You’ll find worshippers here day and night. And on Bar Mitzvah days (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays), families from around the world and across Israel crowd the plaza to celebrate their son’s first public Bible reading at age 13. Jews from every continent, each with their own customs, music, dress and liturgy, mingle together making this an unforgettable and colorful cultural event. Many visitors find that placing a traditional prayer note in the ancient stones gives them a treasured memory.

The nearby Western Wall Tunnel is a true treat for archaeology and history buffs. At over 180 feel long and over 60 feet high, the massive open-air portion of the Western Wall astounds visitors. Most of its nearly 1,700 foot original length lies beneath today’s Old City.

Enormous Herodian stones in The Western Wall Tunnel

The tunnels were constructed using numerous arches placed side-by-side, with staircases going from the city to the Temple Mount. In ancient times there was a shallow valley called the Tyropaean running along the western side of the Temple Mount that separated the rich Herodian quarter from the Temple. Today, the valley has been filled in as the result of constant demolition and rebuilding. This valley was the reason the arches had to be built. In fact, these pathways still hold up the streets today with the tunnel going directly beneath the Muslim quarter.

Feel history with your fingertips by reaching out in the tunnel to touch portions of the huge arches that supported Jerusalem’s streets over the millennia, the homes later built among them and the Western Wall itself with some building blocks being the most massive ever discovered. Exit the tunnel and you are brought back to present-day Jerusalem with a lasting memory and new appreciation for this magnificent and moving site.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com

 Masada is one of the most exciting and popular places in Israel. It tells the story of perseverance and power, faith and surrender, ambitions and a tragic end. Masada is a place where battles of the human spirit were waged with rocks and flaming arrows. The exciting story of the site reveals the courage of the defenders of Masada and their battle against the conquering Romans. The story, set against the ancient mountaintop panorama, is as thrilling as any Hollywood movie, filled with tension, struggle and love.

Situated on top of a mountain surrounded by steep sides and a flat top, and built by King Herod in the year 30 BCE, the view is a desert panorama to the west and the Dead Sea to the east. At the beginning of the great revolt against Rome in the year 69 BCE, the site was conquered by a group of Jewish zealots who made Masada
 their last stronghold. In the year 72, the Romans besieged Masada  and succeeded in scaling the steep walls to the fortress by constructing a huge earthen ramp on its western side. Then in the year 73, 960 Jewish zealots living on the summit of Masada  chose to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Romans. Their deeds left behind a saga of courage, heroism and martyrdom.

The remains of the fortress of Masada are very well preserved and have been reconstructed in an ongoing effort to pay homage to the site and its heroic inhabitants. The most impressive structure is King Herod’s northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below. A large Roman style bathhouse with a colorful mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals is nearby. Masada  has many other buildings, such as the luxurious western palace, the mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), storerooms, watchtowers, synagogue and artifacts of decorated pottery, scrolls and coins, help relive the history. The embossments and murals discovered on the walls of some of the buildings were restored by Italian experts in order to preserve them for years to come.

Masada is situated atop an extremely high mountain. One can ascend on foot by the winding “snake path” or by a cable car that runs from the tourist center at the foot of the mountain to the top. The tourist center also features a movie about the story of Masada , a model of the site and an exhibit of the archaeological findings.

A visit to Masada  is a thrilling and exciting experience. The chilling story and the archaeological remains contribute to the special atmosphere of the site that preserves its magnificent past. In 2000, readers of Traveler Magazine rated Masada  as the best tourist site of its type in the world and in 2001, UNESCO declared Masada a World Heritage Site.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com

The extraordinary range of Israel’s dance scene extends from ballet to modern, jazz, ethnic, ballroom, and folk dancing––your opportunity to dance your feet off among the locals.

Ballroom dancing became popular thanks to new Israelis from the former Soviet Union. Of course, the Russian influence is also strong in Israel’s classical ballet.

Dance lovers should time their trip to coincide with the summer Israel Festival or the fall Tel Aviv-Yaffo International Dance Festival, both of which host premier Israeli companies like Bat Sheva, the Israel Ballet and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, alongside prestigious international troupes. Another summer favorite is Galilee’s Karmiel International Dance Festival, with thousands of dancers showcasing folk and ethnic dance in particular. The Inbal Ethnic Dance Center draws its inspiration from the Bible and the dance heritage of Yemenite and other cultures, while Jerusalem’s Vertigo tends toward the fringe of modern dance.

Israel’s trademark dance is the Hora, with which people famously took to the streets to celebrate when the state was born in 1948. The Hora and other circle dances draw on both Eastern European traditions and the Arab debka. Folk dancing is popular with Israelis of all ages and visitors are welcome to join the fun: your hotel staff will happily refer you to an evening of Israeli folk dancing.

www.iballet.co.il
www.suzannedellal.org.il/
www.batsheva.co.il
www.karmielfestival.co.il
www.kcdc.co.il

Carmen at Masada - The Israeli Opera Festival

The free spirited gypsy Carmen sings about freedom as she falls in love with the soldier José and then with the toreador Escamillo. Fiery Spanish dances and seductive arias in a huge celebration performed by hundreds of participants by the Mt. of Masada. Love, scorching passion and hate that knows no boundries conducted by Daniel Oren.

Length of performance: approx. three hours and 30 minutes

ITC Tours offers tickets to Carmen at Masada while on a ITC Tour

For additional information please contact us at http://www.israeltours.com/contact.asp 

Dates: Thu June 7, (10PM), Sat June 9,. (10PM), Sun June 10, (10PM) 2012



Discover a different Israel through her wineries and vineyards, and through the passion of the people who are crafting award-winning wines today. Enjoy vintage wines, gourmet foods, and gorgeous scenery, along with an ingredient unique to Israel – her millennia of wine producing history. Spend time experiencing Israel in a new way… as a Wine Connoisseur. Israel’s world-class wines are up for the challenge.

A Brief History of Winemaking in Israel

The Middle East & Eastern Mediterranean were the cradle of wine production. In fact, the ancient land of Canaan is one of the earliest countries to cultivate wine – over 2,000 years before the vine reached Europe. In recent years excavations have uncovered ancient presses and storage vessels that illustrate the fact that a well-developed and successful wine industry existed throughout the area. Grapes, grape clusters and vines were frequent motifs found on ancient coins and jars. Additionally, many wine presses and storage cisterns have been unearthed, from Mount Hermon to the Negev. Inscriptions and seals on the jars show that wine was a commercial commodity being shipped in goatskins or jugs from ports such as Dor, Ashkelon and Joppa (Jaffa). Other findings include the fact that the vineyards of Galilee and Judea, and wines named Sharon and Carmel from places like Gaza, Ashkelon and Lod were famous.

​Wine Making Revolution in Israel

In the 1990’s, wine production which formerly had been typically 70% white and 30% red, changed to 60% red and 40%white, reflecting new taste trends. International wine makers and consultants arrived to improve the overall quality of the wine by helping decide which types of grapes to grow, where to plant the vines and how to craft world class wines. Growers invested in state-of-the-art equipment and modern techniques replaced less professional methods. It was during this time that wineries started popping up all over Israel. In fact, 85% of all operating wineries in Israel today were founded in the last decade!

There are currently over 25 commercial wineries and over 150 boutique wineries in Israel where wine making has become a personal obsession as wine makers strive to produce world-class wines. Even with this exciting surge in boutique ‘start ups’, the three largest wineries account for 75% of the annual harvest; the top five wineries total 84 % of the harvest; and the top eleven account for 95% of the total annual harvest.

Facts About the Wine Industry:

Vineyards

Hectares: 3,800 ha. (9,500 acres; 38, 000 dunams)

Harvest 2005: 45,483 tons

Wine Market in Israel: $175 million dollars (20% imports)

Consumption in Israel: 7 liters/person

2005 Export of Israeli Wines ($m): $13.8 million

Main Importers of Israeli Wines: 1. U.S.A; 2. France; 3. U.K.; 4. Germany; 5. Canada

Wine Regions in Israel

The ideal growing conditions for the cultivation of wine grapes lie in the two geographic strips between 30-50 degrees south and north of the equator. Israel is ideally situated in the Northern Hemisphere strip and like other ‘long’ countries such as Chile or Italy, enjoys a variety of microclimates. While the northern region gets a lot of rain and even snow in the winter, just a few hours away, Israel’s southern region is very arid with desert-like conditions. This range in microclimates supports many grape varieties, which can grow in several different types of soil, yielding excellent results. More than 90% of Israel’s vineyards lie in the Shomron, Samson & Galilee regions. The sub regions with the youngest vineyards are the Upper Galilee & the Judean Foothills.

The 5 Official Wine Regions of Israel:

Galilee-Golan

Shomron

Samson

Judean Hills

Negev

Each one of Israel’s five wine growing regions awaits your exploration and looks forward to sharing its unique wines with you.  And, as always in matters of taste, after you visit Israel’s wineries and vineyards it’s up to you to decide for yourself which is your favorite!​

Situated at the southern most tip of Israel on the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea, Eilat is nestled between jagged red mountains and crystal clear waters, ruffled by nothing more then a gentle northerly breeze. The year-long hot, dry climate attracts not only tourists from colder reaches, but also provides a haven for a myriad of coral and fish species endemic to the bay.

The city of Eilat is a great dive holiday destination. The Red Sea is a narrow and elongated stretch of blue water, bordered by mountains with an average height of 1,000 – 1,500 meters and peaks over 2,500 meters above sea level. It is connected to the Indian Ocean at the strait of Bab el Mandab (the gate of tears) and to the Gulf of Aqaba at the straits of Tiran. The shallow 134 meter depth of the straits ensures that you will avoid the cold waters from the deep Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Although the Gulf of Aqaba is very narrow, 23.5 km at the widest point, it is very deep with a maximum depth of 1,829 meters. This creates a very steady water temperature of 22º to 28º Celsius all year long.

The coast of the Red Sea is bordered by coral formations with more than 1,200 species of fish and 250 species of corals. The desert climate of the area provides a long summer with many sunny days making the environment perfect for corals to thrive.

At Eilat you can find world class diving including a local nature reserve that houses a reef of more than 1,200 meters long. Corals can be found at the northern point of the reserve. All of this adds up to a wonderful environment for divers from all over the world to view Eilat’s underwater wonders. Diving is so popular in this region, that there are more than 10 dive centers and over 20 different dive sites, almost all of which are accessed from shore. In addition, Eilat is also often used as a home base to divers traveling to the city of Aqaba at Jordan, or the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. You will not find a safer or more diver friendly dive destination in the world!

Eilat offers the best environment for dive courses and a few thousand certifications are issued every year. If you’re interested in diving, there are a few options. As a certified diver you will be asked to show the following documents:

Diving certificate – a card with name and picture from a known dive organization (such as PADI, CMAS, NAUI, SSI, IANTD, TDI, ACUC, and others).

Divers log book – indicating you have been diving in the last 6 months. Divers who haven’t been diving for more than 6 months will be asked to join a refresh dive before they participate in other dive activities.

Divers Insurance – specific divers insurance which covers decompression chamber treatment or any other necessary medical treatment for diving incident. One can be purchased at every dive center, or on the Internet.

Certified divers can join the daily guided dives to one of the many sites in Eilat. Experienced divers with more than 20 dives can rent dive equipment and go by themselves for a dive in the area.

Four favorite dive sites are:

The Japanese Gardens:

Situated close to the marine observatory, the Japanese Gardens have a beautiful drop off to more than 40 meters with lots of fish and corals. This dive site is accessed by boat. A wreck lies at the deepest point of the drop off at around 50 meters.

The ‘Satil’ Wreck:

A great wreck, more than 30 meters long, standing on its bottom in a depth of 24 meters at the bottom, and up to 12 meters at its mast. The wreck is an old missile ship from the Israeli navy that was sunk in order to create one more dive site. The wreck was sunk in the year 1994 and is 70 meters from shore with its bow directed to north.

The Caves:

Situated about 500 meters north of the Egyptian border, this magnificent reef offers a swim in very shallow waters of about five meters. The caves are the home of hundreds of fish called sweepers that will swim very close to you as you pass from one side of the reef to the other.

The Dolphin Reef:

At this magnificent resort, divers can dive in a secured area with a pack of dolphins in their natural habitat. Most of the dolphins were born at the dolphin reef resort and are extremely friendly and familiar with the guides.

Visitors without any diving experience can participate in a dive course, or in one of the introduction programs. Access to the water is right off the beach and the sea is always calm, with very light wind, and excellent visibility. 12 is the minimum age to participate in a dive course. Courses range in length from a one-day program, to a full week course or longer.

Introduction Dive:

This is a one-time experience for people from the ages of 8 to 80. Anyone can do it! All you need to do is go through a short briefing, and accompany an instructor for a short dive at a depth of up to 6 meters at one of the many local dive sites. The instructor operates all the scuba equipment and the diver only has to breathe and enjoy the underwater tour.

Discover Scuba Diving:

This 1-day program is basically the first step in a diving course, with a minimum age requirement of 12 years old. The program includes one classroom session, one training session at a pool or very shallow confined water environment and an open water dive at one of the many dive sites.

Scuba diver course/ Open water diver course/ Advanced open water diver course:

3, 5 or 7 day courses with a minimum age requirement of 12 years old. This program includes knowledge development, confined water training and open water dives. The courses certify the divers for dives to 12, 18 and 30 meters.

Divers who seek more advanced dive training will easily find it at one of the many dive centers in Eilat which train divers for all sorts of dive certificates including technical diving to a depth of up to 100 meters and instructor courses.

We hope you will choose it as your next holiday destination.

Article and photos are courtesy of:

Manta Dive Center.  www.redseasports.co.il

​Spread over 62 acres, the two-tiered park is centered on a vast man-made lake complete with waterfalls and side pools, surrounded by spacious lawns and shaded beauty spots.

And with over 170 species of animals – most are mentioned in the Bible and some almost made extinct in the interim – this truly is a one of a kind zoo. By the way, this does not mean that regular animals are not present as they even have penguins here!

Other features of the children’s zoo include a petting corner and a playground with an adjacent snack bar for watchful parents. On holidays, the Friendly Animal Houses (Bayit Hai in Hebrew) had guided, hands-on encounters with less-fearsome animals. The Noah’s Ark Sculpture Garden is an exotic new playground designed by sculptress Niki de Saint Phalle (creator of the renowned Mifletzet or Monster children’s slide in Kiryat HaYovel) and architect Mario Botta (designer of Tel Aviv University’s Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Cultural Center). The zoo’s visitors’ center, which overlooks the African savannah is shaped in the form of an ark, with an auditorium, a temporary exhibits gallery, computer information stations, a souvenir shop and a cafeteria situated on the ark’s deck.

The history of the zoo is interesting as well. ​The original zoo was the pet project of Hebrew University zoologist, Prof. Aharon Shulov and was a tiny establishment located in the center of Jerusalem. Following the War of Independence in 1951, the zoo was relocated to a 15-acre plot in what was then the outlying neighborhood of Romema, where it remained for forty years. During this time, the quaint and not overly developed zoo briefly managed by Talmudic authority Rabbi Adin Steinzaltz, became a popular local institution for intellectual edification, then as a form of identification with the city and its idea of a zoo.

The zoo reopened in 1993 in the city’s southwestern sector near the Malha Mall and industrial park, the new train station, and the up-and-coming Malha neighborhood. Now the joint effort of the Municipality of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Israel Ministry of Tourism, the focus is on the zoo’s role as an educator in nature and animal protection, preservation and in environmental awareness. Recreational and educational activities target all ages and social groups, with an emphasis on inter-racial encounter programs. These include after-school activities, summer camps, guided tours, and other activities that involve observation and physical contact with the animals.

​For more information about the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem – The Biblical Zoo: http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/len/

​

Tel: +972-2-6750111

​

The article is courtesy of the Jerusalem Tourism Authority http://tour.jerusalem.muni.il

***

Like the United States, Israel is an ethnic melting pot of cultures, religions and immigrant influence. As a result, the food scene in Israel is extraordinarily diverse. Although 80% of Israelis are Jews and half of them were born in Israel, most of their parents, grandparents or great grandparents came from more than 120 other countries, bringing foods, recipes and traditions from six continents. And the 20% of non-Jewish Israelis have their own food traditions too. Israel is also a part of the Western world, so everything that happens in Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and Paris finds its way to Israel within a few weeks. Put all this together and you have the ingredients for one of the most dynamic, fascinating – and delicious – food scenes in the world.

If you asked an Israeli 25 or 30 years ago about the country’s typical fare, chances are the answer would have been falafel, hummus and tahini, with a side of couscous or gefilte fish. A lot has happened since then. These dishes still exist, of course, but Israel has all that and more now. From hamburgers (Israel’s first McDonald’s opened in the 1990’s) to pizza to sushi (more sushi restaurants per capita in Tel Aviv than in any city on earth, including Tokyo), to the cuisines of India and China, to the finest influences of Paris, Brussels, Lyon, Barcelona and New York, the sophisticated Israeli food scene keeps up with the latest trends. Many of Israel’s leading chefs have studied, prepped and apprenticed at some of the finest restaurants in the world.

But there’s more. Some restaurants in Israel serve eclectic cuisines existing nowhere else on earth, particularly from areas now devoid of Jewish people. Large Jewish populations once created their own food traditions in places like Salonika, Dubrovnik, Tripolitania, Mesopotamia, Persia, Yemen and Bukhara and now the only place to taste those lost cultures is in Israel.

Two elements make food in Israel so unique. One is our location on the shores of the Mediterranean. Like Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and Spain, our cuisine reflects the warm sun right down to the olives that grow on our trees. The high quality of our olive oil, breads, fish and meats has contributed to the Mediterranean diet’s healthy reputation. Quite simply, it is the source of the best things to eat. Second, Israel produces the most splendid quality of fruits, vegetables and dairy products, from the legendary Jaffa oranges first exported to Europe in the 1930’s, to the kiwis, star fruit, citrus, tomatoes, peppers, flowers, yogurts and cheeses we export today.

RESTAURANTS
Almost every restaurant in Israel provides menus in English. Occasionally, the spellings may be different and the translations can be amusing. As you would for anywhere else in the world, research restaurants online or use a good guidebook, and get advice from friends or your hotel front desk about their favorites. Use common sense when choosing a place to eat. Selecting establishments that look clean and welcoming and have a large turnover of diners.

Most restaurants and food stalls are open nonstop from the morning until the evening hours. Restaurants with bars remain open until the wee hours of the night. In the major cities, especially in Tel Aviv, you can find something to eat at any hour of the day or night.

Reservations are a must at the top restaurants, particularly in Tel Aviv. A great deal for tourists are the business lunches at restaurants, especially the top-rated places, in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. These lunches are special ‘prix fixe’ menus with several choices – at prices a third or half of the same meal in the evening.

Israelis generally eat later than Americans. Typically, lunch is between 1-3 p.m. While the better restaurants open at 6 or 7 p.m., they don’t usually become crowded until 9 p.m. or later.

Breakfast
In Israel’s early days, pioneers on kibbutzim would rise at 4 a.m. to work the fields and milk the cows, and return for a hearty breakfast at 8 or 9 a.m. Breakfast revolved largely around their own produce: eggs, bread, dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruit.

Fast forward five or six decades and those pioneers’ breakfasts have become one of the most delicious – and renowned – gastronomic experiences in Israel. Every hotel serves a version of the “Israeli Breakfast” – invariably a giant buffet of vegetables, salads, cheese, eggs, smoked fish, breads, pastries, yogurts, cereals and fruit.

Cafés
Café life is vibrant in Israel. Sidewalk cafes throughout every city and town offer a varied menu of coffees, teas, cakes, sandwiches, pastries and light meals. Israelis often sit in cafés for hours over a cup of coffee. One of the Israeli favorites is “café affuch” (“upside-down coffee”), a combination cappuccino/café latte. U.S.-style coffee bars are more and more common in Israel and one Israeli chain now operates two stores in New York.

Snacking
Israelis love to eat at all hours. Falafel is considered Israel’s number one street food, and it’s available everywhere. If you’re driving, the restaurants, snack shops and stores at gas stations are invariably spotless and serve excellent fare. The ubiquitous juice stands provide orange, grapefruit, carrot, pomegranate, and grape juice freshly squeezed to order.

“KOSHER”
“Kosher” is an adjective (“kashrut” is the noun) used to describe food that is “fit” or “clean” or, in other words, prepared and served according to Judaism’s 3,000-year-old dietary laws, which can seem complicated to the uninitiated.

Simply put, kashrut prohibits the eating of pork (Muslims proscribe pork too) and shellfish and the mixing of meat ingredients with dairy ingredients.

Many Israelis observe kashrut – or some version of it – while many, perhaps most, do not. Almost every hotel in Israel is kosher (so that anyone can eat or stay there), but the majority of Israeli restaurants are not kosher. Restaurants that are kosher display a kashrut certificate; kosher restaurants usually close after lunch on Friday and don’t reopen until late Saturday night, or noon on Sunday.

Drinking in Israel
The water throughout Israel is perfectly safe to drink. Bottled water (still and fizzy) is available everywhere. When touring, be sure to keep hydrated: the sun is hot and many tourists forget they have to keep drinking. Fresh fruit juices are wonderful in Israel and every kind of soft drink is available. Israeli beer is excellent too.
WINE IN ISRAEL
For 3,000 years, vineyards and wine have been part of the celebration of Jewish holidays and the Sabbath. In the late 19th century the wine industry in Israel was given a boost by France’s Baron Edmond de Rothschild and by the dawn of the 21st century the production and flavor of wine in Israel had reached the highest international levels of quality. In 2008, the influential U.S. magazine, Wine Spectator, published a feature story on Israeli wine and summed it up by affirming that “Israel’s wines are world class.”

In Israel, more than 200 wineries of all sizes produce excellent red and white vintages and sparkling wines.

Here’s great news for travelers to Israel: In July, the Israeli Cabinet approved construction of the country’s second international airport, to be located in Timna, approximately 18 m north of Eilat on the Red Sea. The new airport will be named after the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon and his son Assaf.

Replacing airports in Eilat and Ovda, the new 1.5 billion NIS airport will encourage the growth of incoming international tourism and other traffic. The new airport is expected to attract over 1.5 million people a year, from both international and domestic flights, at least three times the amount of traffic handled by the current airport in Eilat.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the number of passengers moving through Ben-Gurion International Airport increases between 3-5% annually. In 2010, 11,485,509 passengers flew internationally, in addition to 674,830 domestic travelers.