Middle East - Anthony Ham [273]
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DISCOUNT CARDS
A Hostelling International (HI) card is useful for obtaining discounts at HI hostels and an ISIC card entitles bearers to a 10% student discount on Egged buses, a 20% discount on Israel State Railways, as well as reductions on admissions to most museums and archaeological sites. Having said that, many places offer student discounts only to those studying in Israel, and cards issued by individual universities may not be recognised.
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EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
Jerusalem may be Israel’s capital, but most diplomatic missions are located in Tel Aviv; some also maintain consulates in Jerusalem, Haifa and/or Eilat.
Most diplomatic missions are open in the morning from Monday to Friday; some also open in the afternoon after closing for lunch. Unsurprisingly, there’s no Lebanese, Iranian, Iraqi or Syrian embassy in Israel.
Australia (Map; 03-693 5000; australianembassy.org.il; 37 Sha’ul HaMelech Ave, Tel Aviv 64928)
Canada (Map; 03-636 3300; fax 03-636 3380; 3 Nirim St, Tel Aviv 67060)
Egypt Eilat (Map; 08-637 6882; 68 HaAfroni St 88119); Tel Aviv (Map; 03-546 4151; fax 03-544 1615; 54 Basel St, Tel Aviv 64239)
France (Map; 03-524 5371; 112 Herbert Samuel Esplanade, Tel Aviv 63572)
Germany (Map; 03-693 1313; tel-aviv.diplo.de; 19th fl, 3 Daniel Frisch St, Tel Aviv 64731)
Ireland (Map; 03-696 4166; fax 03-696 4160; 17th fl, 3 Daniel Frisch St, Tel Aviv 64731)
Jordan (off Map; 03-751 7722; fax 03-751 7722; www.jordanembassytelaviv.gov.jo; 14 Abbe Hillel St, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv 52506)
Netherlands (off Map; 03-754 0777; netherlands -embassy.co.il; 14 Abbe Hillel St, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv 52506)
Turkey (Map; 03-524 1101; fax 03-524 0499; 202 HaYarkon St, Tel Aviv 63405)
UK Embassy (Map; 03-725 1222, fax 03-527 1572, 192 HaYarkon St, Tel Aviv 64505); Consulate (Map; 03-510 0166, 1 Ben Yehuda St, Tel Aviv 63801) The consulate deals with for passport/visa issues.
USA Jerusalem (Map; 02-625 3288; 27 Nablus Rd, Jerusalem 94190); Tel Aviv (Map; 03-519 7575; www.usembassy-israel.org.il; 71 HaYarkon St, Tel Aviv 63903)
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FESTIVALS & EVENTS
The specific dates of Jewish festivals may vary from year to year. For the latest dates, ask at tourist offices.
January & February
International Tiberias Marathon (tiberias-marathon.co.il; Tiberias) Held in January.
Dead Sea Half-Marathon (marathon.deadsea.co.il) A race from Ein Gedi Spa to Masada and back marathon.deadsea.co.il) A race from Ein Gedi Spa to Masada and back; run in February.
Tel Aviv Jazz Festival (jazzfest.co.il) Held in February. Cool jazz from across the globe attracts jazz buffs and novices alike.
March & April
Boombamela Festival (www.boombamela.co.il; Netzanim Beach, Ashkelon) Naked bodies painted in rainbow colours, beach bonfires, bongo drums, art and hedonism. It’s one of the wildest parties in the Middle East; held in March.
Jerusalem Half-Marathon (hmarathon.jerusalem.muni.il; Jerusalem) Run in March.
Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition (arims.org.il) Usually held in Tel Aviv during March.
Ein Gev Music Festival (Ein Gev, Galilee) Ballet and orchestral music festival; held in April.
Haifa International Youth Theatre (Haifa)Street and theatre performances in April by Jewish and Arab companies.
May
Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival (Abu Ghosh, near Jerusalem) Haunting classical and choral performances in atmospheric, ancient venues.
Israel Festival (www.israel-festival.org.il; Jerusalem) A host of music, theatre and dance performances grace Jerusalem’s stages for this huge annual event.
Jacob’s Ladder Festival (www.jlfestifval.com; Sea of Galilee) Draws folk musicians and artists from around the world.
Jerusalem International Book Fair (jerusalembookfair.com; Jerusalem) Biennial event that attracts more than 1200 publishers from over 40 countries.
Shantipi New Age Festival (Kibbutz Lehavot Haviva, Pardesh