Football Supporters’ Federation Wales
FSF Cymru fans’ embassy ,Issue 38
European Championship Qualifier
Israel v Wales
28TH MARCH 2015
Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa
Kick off: 20:00 local time
Sammy Ofer stadium
Information for the fans by the fans. FSF Help line number is
+447905 861 848
Welcome to Issue 38 of our FSF Cymru information booklet for Welsh fans. In this edition we are visiting Israel, the
current leaders of our qualifying group, for a huge fixture on the road to France 2016.
We are expecting over 800 fans to travel to this game and that is a good figure considering the distance and some
of the anxieties fans had about travelling here following recent problems in this region.
Our last trip was to Brussels and Wales were roared on by 2,500 fans at the King Baudouin Stadium, inspiring an
excellent 0-0 draw and another valuable point.
Following our pre match visit to Israel in December we think our fans will be pleasantly surprised when they arrive
in Tel Aviv and will find friendly people and a beach holiday atmosphere, typical of many Mediterranean resorts.
There is a first class stadium in Haifa that has every facility required for our visiting fans. Hopefully this FSF Cymru
guide will assist you during the trip and once again we are grateful to the Home and Foreign office for their
assistance as well as the Israeli Embassy and the FAW for help with distribution
Top Tip – Keep a copy of your passport and a list of important phone numbers in a place that can be
easily accessed if needed. A good idea would be to scan your passport and e mail it to yourself
Israel lies on the Mediterranean coast of southwest Asia, with most people living along the coastal plain.
The eastern interior is dry and includes the Dead Sea—the lowest point on the Earth's surface. North are
the rugged hills of Galilee, and south lies the Negev, a desert plateau. Israel's population is about 81
percent Jewish; most of the rest is Arab. The Palestinian territories have some 3.5 million inhabitants—
about 11 percent Jewish, 89 percent Palestinian.
The population of Israel as defined by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics was estimated in 2014 to be
8,146,300 people. The capital city is Jerusalem with a population of 890,428 in 2013 but just over 1
million in the metropolitan area.
FSF CYMRU - by Wales fans, for Wales fans - an independent organisation, committed to helping
Wales supporters. FSF Cymru are proud members of FSE (Football Supporters Europe)
MISSION STATEMENT
To help and support Wales fans who travel away. Our role is to provide accurate and objective
information, including a Risk Assessment: we convey what other agencies, such as police forces,
government departments, and football authorities are recommending: we publish a comprehensive
guide which is distributed free of charge to all travelling supporters: we operate and publicise a 24
hour Hotline for fans in difficulties: we arrange a Football embassy operation, at venues abroad,
where we can offer advice, guidance and support as necessary.
To work with the Football Association of Wales in all aspects affecting the fans, to ensure that the
supporters voice is heard.
A continuous, running dialogue is held with Mr Mark Evans, Head, International Affairs, we take
supporters complaints, views to the FAW for discussion
“To take every possible action to eradicate any inter club rivalry when fans are following the Welsh
national team”
Before you travel anywhere in the world outside of the United Kingdom please visit the
Know before you go website
https://www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Coaches to the match , Gôl! and Supporters Football team news
FSF Cymru representatives will be on duty
throughout the trip and based mainly at Mike’s
Place, 86 Herbert Samuel Street.
This popular bar shows live football and has regular
live entertainment and is conveniently located on
the sea front and very close to the American
Embassy
We hope to show the Wrexham cup final on the
Sunday afternoon.
Fans who have booked coaches with Leigh James or
FSF must meet here on Match day from 10am to
collect coach tickets, coaches will leave at 1 pm
FSF CYMRU ELP LINE +447905 861848
During the Wales Away trip ,Gôl! will also be
visiting Shanti House in Tel Aviv, and the Desert
Shanti Youth Village, which offer shelter and
guidance to homeless young people. Shanti
House was established more than 30 years ago
and has helped 36,000 children with family and
social problems
The Welsh supporters’ football team are arranging a match against Israeli fans on Friday March 27th. All players are
to meet at Mikes Place to enable transport to be put on to get to the venue, spectators are very welcome. If you
would like to play you just need football boots, we will supply the kit, please contact Neil Dymock on the FSF Help
line number +447905 861848
Below we can see our squad in Belgium, it was one of our better squads and we had an excellent victory in
Brussels. Our supporters team also competed in the Truce games at Ypres in Belgium just before Christmas 2014, a
six a side tournament to honour the soldiers from World war one.
FSF Cymru Fans Embassy help line
+ 44 7905861848
Tel Aviv
Haifa
Haifa is the third largest city in Israel and the major city in the north of the country with a population
close to 270,000. Along with its immediate suburbs Haifa has a population of about 450,000. It is a
seaport located on Israel's Mediterranean shoreline, below scenic Mount Carmel.
Getting around; Unlike other major cities in Israel, local buses (but not the Carmelit subway) run on
Friday nights (between 10.30PM and 5AM) Saturdays and other Jewish holy days; however, they only
operate minimal and highly infrequent services during these hours. The "sherut" (taxi van with fixed
routes and prices) also runs on Saturdays in parallel with some bus routes, and is much more frequent.
Below Left typical Haifa street near the port Below right The Anchor Irish pub Sha'ar Palmer Street 3,
The currency conversation at time of writing was £1 = 6 New Israeli Shekel (NIS)
During our visit to Haifa we found drinks to average between 22 and 30 NIS a pint in the local cafes and
bars, a glass of Jameson's was 30 NIS a lunchtime meal of sausage and chips came to 50 NIS and a small
glass of wine was 18 NIS. Prices vary of course and are often more expensive than the ones we quote.
The Port area ( below left) and German colony (below right) are both great places to visit but
remember they are at least 4 miles away from the stadium. A lot of the attractions in Haifa can be
found high up above the city and if you get up there you will be met with fantastic views of the city,
there are many bars, cafes and restaurants up high on the mountain and you will need to take a taxi up
there.
Sammy Ofer stadium
The stadium is almost brand new and the facilities are excellent. It is the new stadium of Maccabi and
Hapoel Haifa and as such replaced the old Kiryat Eliezer Stadium as their home.
Construction of the stadium started in June 2010. It was expected to be finished in the spring of 2013,
however several delays pushed back completion to the summer of 2014.
Sammy Ofer Stadium opened on 15 September 2014 with a league match between Maccabi Haifa
and Bnei Sakhnin (4-2).
The stadium is named after businessman Sammy Ofer, who provided a significant part of the funding in
exchange for the naming rights. It has a capacity of 30,701 seats all with fantastic views of the game and
all under cover. Wales fans will be allocated a section in the corner of the stadium, it will be dependant
on numbers whether we will be in both upper and lower tiers, We have the whole section of over 2,000
places to ourselves regardless of how many we require and it is a segregated area. Below we can see
where our allocation is ( top left), the view from your seat (top right), leg room (bottom left) concourse
refreshments and toilet areas (bottom right)
Getting to the stadium
Sammy Ofer Stadium is located in the south of Haifa about 5 miles from downtown Haifa and Bat Galim.
The stadium lies only a few hundred metres inland from the Mediterranean coast near Dado Beach.
There are a few bars near the beach. The stadium lies right next to the Route 4 main road that connects
downtown Haifa with its southern suburbs. It is approximately 15 minute walk from Hof ha-Carmel
railway station and you walk through a large business area.
There is also a bus terminal near the station. There is no public transport on Saturdays until the evening
so it will be possible to get a train after the match but not before.
British Embassy information for Welsh fans in Israel
The British Embassy in Tel Aviv is near the sea front and the address is 192 Hayarkon Street, it is on the
opposite side of the road and midway between the Carlton and Tel Aviv Hilton hotels. It is not open on
the weekends but they will have staff on standby on the Sunday to come to the Embassy and issue
Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs). Fans will be able to book an ETD appointment by calling the usual
Embassy phone number, however if anyone does need this service on Saturday or Sunday they will have
to pay an additional call out fee. You should call the Embassy if you have any problems because there
isn’t a walk in service at the Embassy. You can also call our FSF help line + 447905 861848
British Embassy Tel Aviv
Telephone +972 (0)3 725 1222
What a Consul can do:
Contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets
Advise on how to transfer funds
Refer you to local Social Services
Help you to get in touch with Local Lawyers or provide information on legal aid.
Arrange for next of kin to be informed of accident or a death and advise on procedures
Contact and visit British Nationals under arrest or in a Prison and, in certain circumstances, arrange for messages
to be sent to relatives or friends
Give guidance on organisations experienced in tracing missing persons
Make representations on your behalf to the local authorities in certain circumstances
But a Consul cannot:
Intervene in court proceedings
Get you out of prison
Give legal advice or instigate Court proceedings on your behalf
Get better treatment for you in hospital or prison than is provided for nationals
Investigate a crime
Pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills
Pay for travel tickets for you
Undertake work more properly done by travel representatives, airlines, banks or motoring organisations
Obtain accommodation, work or work permit for you
Before you travel anywhere in the world outside of the United Kingdom please visit the Know
before you go website
https://www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
British Embassy information for Israel
Please contact us at the FSF if possible before seeking Embassy assistance, we will be able to guide you
through the process.
The address of the British embassy is 192 Hayarkon Street,
FSF Cymru help line number is +447905 861848
What to do if your British Passport is lost or stolen whilst in Israel
It is vital you report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible to the local police and to the British
Embassy ,even if you don't want to replace your passport immediately. This will reduce the risk of
someone using your passport or your identity.
When you report the loss or theft to the Embassy, they will give you a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification
form to fill in and sign. They will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to
Identity and Passport Service. The IPS will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else
using your identity. You need to use form LS01 to report any loss or theft of your passport whether
applying for a replacement passport or not.
Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronically cancelled. If you find it, you will not
be able to use it as a proof of identity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it as
a means of identification as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act.
You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the
Borders and Immigration Authority at UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could face
deportation or arrest.
If your passport is lost or stolen the British Consulate in Tel Aviv can issue an emergency travel
document that will get you home at a cost of approximately £95
An emergency travel document allows you to leave the country you’re in and travel to your destination via a maximum
of 5 countries.
The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the country you’re applying from.
An emergency travel document doesn’t guarantee entry to every country. You may also need a visa. Check with the
embassy or consulate of the country or countries you’re intending to travel to or through. You must present:
• 2 identical recent photographs of yourself - make sure they meet the rules for passport photo or your application
will be delayed
• details of your intended travel plans - where and when you intend to travel (including countries you will travel
through)
• a completed application form
• a police report if your passport has been lost or stolen
• You will have to pay a fee, equivalent to £95. Embassy or consulate staff will tell how much this is in local currency
when you apply.
Getting your emergency travel document
The embassy or consulate staff will check that you’re eligible for an emergency travel document. If you’re not, they
will tell you why. Please contact FSF Cymru we will try to assist with this process
You may get the document on the day you apply if your circumstances are straightforward. If your circumstances are
more complex, it can take longer. You may need to change your travel plans.
Using your emergency travel document
The emergency travel document will only be valid for the journey that you specified when you applied and for a specific
period of time. This will be shown on the document.
Your existing British passport will be cancelled in most cases.
Immigration authorities may keep your emergency travel document when you arrive at your destination.
You will need to get a replacement passport when back in the UK if you intend doing anymore travelling and pay the
full costs, any fees that you paid for an emergency travel document will not be taken into account
Israel, some General Information
Precautionary advice
Please note that whilst we found our Israel pre visit pleasant and safe, it is fair to say that you should be
vigilant at all times during your trip. There have been sporadic incidents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in
recent months including an attack on bus passengers during a rush hour period. We would advise fans
to use taxis to get around, or to travel in groups if on public transport.
Air raid shelters are available all over the centre of Tel Aviv under car parks, shopping malls and hotels as
well as private residences, in the very unlikely event of the air raid sounding it is advisable to proceed to
the nearest one, follow the locals. Rocket attacks have ceased in number since November and hopefully
we will not hear the siren.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to: Gaza
The Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar along the border with Lebanon (the ‘Blue Line’)
east of Route 98 along the Syrian border
Important contact Phone Numbers
Police 100, Magen David Adom (Emergency medical services) 101 Fire Department 102
Tourist Police
Tourists can also call the tourist police at 03-5165382 if an emergency arises. The tourist police office is
located on the corner of Geula and Herbert Samuel Streets, in Tel Aviv.
FSF Cymru helpline +447905 861 848 British Embassy +972 (0)3 725 1222
Lucy Mason, FAW Ticketing Manager, will be based at the Dan Panorama Haifa,107 Hanassi Avenue
(Pictured below) This is high above the city and if its not convenient for you the main ticket collection point will be
at the Away ticket office on match day Just off entrance K she will be there between 5pm and kick off.
There will be no match day sales. You can collect tickets here if you have arranged this in advance.
Lucy +44 (0) 7827 157874
Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv
Ben Gurion airport is very modern and has all the usual facilities for visiting passengers. In 2013, Ben
Gurion Airport handled 14.2 Million passengers (increase of 8,3%) and more than 100,000 flight
operations. 2014 saw a further increase in passengers and flight operations The airport serves as a hub
for Israeli airlines: El Al, Israir Airlines and Arkia Israel Airlines.
British airways fly scheduled flights from Heathrow every day Easy Jet fly from Luton and Gatwick to Tel
Aviv every day and flight times are just under 5 hours.
Getting from the airport to Tel Aviv and Haifa
Taxis- there are authorised taxis just outside the welcoming hall at the airport. The taxi service is provided under
the supervision of the Israel Airport Authority, and the companies operate under licence granted thereby.
It is recommended to avoid the use of taxi services that are not permitted to transport passengers at Ben Gurion
Airport, and to approach the taxi dispatcher instead.
A ride to Tel Aviv from the airport should be around 250 NIS (£42) Make sure you ask the driver to put the trip on
the meter. Taxi to Haifa would cost 553 NIS £92 if there are 2 passengers and 2 suitcases
Every ride from Ben Gurion Airport incurs a surcharge of NIS 5.(90p)
Night fare: (There is an extra 25% charge on night journeys )
Daily from 21:01 until 05:29 as well as on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Friday from 17:00 until 05:29 the following day.
Waiting fare:
NIS 94 for a full hour of waiting.(£16)
Luggage Fare:
Hand baggage as defined by airlines – free of charge.
Suitcase – NIS 4.4 for each piece. About 80p
All price conversions are estimates based on exchange rate January 2015
Buses : Not the best option and not available directly from the airport to the city, there is a shuttle service
available that links the bus service but our advice is to take the train or taxi.
Trains are very regular and virtually 24 hours a day except on Friday when they run from 0.53 in the
morning until 14,30 in the afternoon they resume Saturday evening at 19.26 pm.
There is a train station at the airport. and there are several stops in Tel-Aviv. The "Tel-Aviv Savidor
Centre“ railway station is also a central bus station so people could get on a bus to get closer to the
hotels or grab a taxi which will cost less from there.
Tickets cost
16 NIS (£2.70) Single to Tel Aviv ,25 minute trip
41 NIS (£7) To Haifa which is a 1 hour 25 minute trip More train information on next page -
Transport in Israel from Airport and around the country
Trains continued : The airport train station is easily accessible at the lower level on Terminal 3 (one level
below the arrivals hall). It offers good connection to many parts of the country, including the city of Tel
Aviv, with a single-ride ticket to the city for only 16 NIS (roughly £2.70). Buy a ticket from the cashier or
from an automatic machine, and use it to enter the platform area.
Keep the ticket for use to exit the electronic gate at your arrival station. The train service operates
around the clock on weekdays, with 3 trains per hour most of the day and one per hour at night. On
weekends and Jewish holidays, from Friday afternoon till Saturday evenings, it doesn’t operate (the last
departure from the airport on Friday is at 14.37, the first departure on Saturday at 19.35.
During day-light saving time trains start 2 hours later on Saturdays). Trains stop at all four Tel Aviv
stations, with the exception of late night trains that stop only at Tel Aviv Merkaz/Savidor station. The
stations are, in order of arrival from the airport: Tel Aviv HaHagana (8 minutes travel), Tel Aviv HaShalom
(13 minutes), Tel Aviv Merkaz/Savidor (18 minutes), Tel Aviv University (25 minutes). For most travellers,
HaShalom or Merkaz/Savidor would be the place to disembark. Most stations are suitable for nonHebrew speakers, nonetheless, passengers will often be glad to assist.
Ben Gurion airport train station platform
Sheruts (shared Taxis) picture opposite are not available
from the airport to Tel Aviv but Sheruts run from Ben
Gurion Airport to Jerusalem and Haifa. They can be
picked up from the ground floor arrivals area (near the
taxi rank) and run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making
them especially useful on Saturday when public transport
is otherwise minimal. As there are constantly flights
arriving, you should rarely have to wait more than half an
hour for the sherut to fill up, but this obviously depends
on how many passengers are on it when you arrive.
To go to the airport, you can call the local sherut
providers office 24 hours in advance to book a sherut to
pick you up from where you are staying and drop you at
the airport.
Sheruts can also be a good mode of transport for groups
of ten to visit other places of interest in Israel
Prices are based on price per vehicle rather than price
per person
Welcome to Israel from the Ambassador of Israel to the UK
Dear fans,
Welcome to Israel! You are in for a real treat, whether you are coming for a week or a weekend, Israel has
something for you.
In the next few pages you will find some of my advice and suggestions for what to do while you are visiting, and
don’t worry if you can’t do it all… there’s always next time! You will also find some interesting facts about Israel,
and the relationship with Wales.
Israel regularly appears in the Iris festival, and has strong business links with the region. There are over 100
Welsh ex-pats living in Israel, and there is even an annul St David’s Day celebration!
You will be spending most of your time in Tel Aviv, Israel’s city that never sleeps. If you turn the page of this
booklet, you will see some of my suggestions of places to go, things to see and some tips on getting by in Israel
(including some key phrases below!).
I hope you have an opportunity to explore this incredible country, and I look forward to seeing you all in Cardiff
for the return leg.
I can guarantee this will be an amazing experience, and you will not want to leave, so enjoy, have fun, and I hope
for a great game of football!
Daniel Taub
Ambassador of Israel to the court of St James’s
Key Phrases:
I don’t speak Hebrew, only English:
I am from Wales:
How much does that cost?
Where is the toilet?
I am staying at [hotel name]:
I need the Police/Ambulance/Fire Brigade:
Can I have the bill?
Please:
Thank you:
Can I have a local beer?
Where is the nearest bar?
How do I get to the [place name]?
Ani lo medaber Ivrit, rak Anglit.
Ani m’Wales
Kama zeh oleh?
Efo ha’sherutim
Ani shoheh b’malon [hotel name]
Ani tzarich et ha’mishtarah/ Ambulance/ Mechabeh
Esh
Efshar et ha’cheshbon B’vakeshah
B’vakeshah
Todah Rabah
Efshar lishtot et ha’birah ha’m’komit
Efo ha’bar hachiy karov?
Ech ani megiya l’[place name]
Ambassador Taub’s top Tel Aviv sights
The Beach –
Tel Aviv’s beach is one of the most amazing places to spend time. Temperatures
in March tend to be around 20°C, so perfect for spending a day lazing around on
the beach. Israel’s beaches are also famed for the game “Matkot” (pictured ),
invented in Israel and played worldwide. With plenty of bars and cafes on the
beachfront selling food, drink, and entertainment, it is no challenge to spend a
whole day on the beach. Be aware that if you take a sun-lounger, you will be
asked to pay (someone will come to you, don’t worry) somewhere between 2
and 10 Shekels. An Umbrella is a little extra.
Cafes –
Tel Aviv’s cafes are famous for encapsulating the hustle and bustle of Tel Aviv
life. Take a step back from the beachfront and you will find streets filled with
cafes serving all sorts of food and drinks. Sitting in a café you will hear anything
from business meetings, to social chatter and will be able to have a nice rest,
whilst watching the colourful Tel Aviv world go by. Café Aroma is Israel’s answer
to Starbucks, but there are loads of small independent cafes just waiting for you to come in and have a seat.
Places to eat –
Restaurants in Tel Aviv are not hard to find, and come in a range of
prices. From the very cheap cafes and bars serving food to the much
more upmarket restaurants at Tel Aviv’s Port area, there is
something for every budget. You may choose to eat in your hotel but
if you don’t, take a walk along the beachfront and you will find a
variety of eateries for whatever takes your fancy. The Port area has amazing fish restaurants, The Azraeli Centre has a
number of restaurants, ranging in price. One “must visit” restaurant is the Max Brenner restaurant – dedicated to chocolate.
You can find it at the Port, or at 45 Rothschild Boulevard.
Sightseeing –
It’s not possible to list all of Tel Aviv’s sites here, but if you visit http://www.visit-tel-aviv.com/ then you will find loads to do.
No matter what you are interested in, there is a sight for you. If you do not have internet access, just ask the person at the
reception of your hotel who will be more than happy to advise
you! If you are interested in architecture, then did you know that
Tel Aviv has the largest number of Bauhaus buildings in any city in
the world?! If performance is more your thing, check out the
Habima theatre company, Israel’s national theatre or Batsheva,
Israel’s national Dance company. If you want to learn more about
the history of Tel Aviv, then visit Independence Hall – where Israel’s declaration of Independence was announced and
signed, or the Palmach Museum, Rated #1 Tel-Aviv museum on Trip Advisor, this museum examines the Palmach, the
military wing of the Zionist Movement, which functioned until the establishment of the State of Israel. If you want to stick to
the more Art and Culture experiences, then visit the top of the Azraeli Centre (great view!) or head to the Tel Aviv Museum
of Art. One thing you must do is take a short walk (or shorter bus/cab ride) down to the old city of Jaffa, where there is a
bustling market place, great food, and the ancient port.
Nightlife –
The City that Never Stops will keep night owls busy with its
trendy bars, dance clubs and diverse nightlife. Tel-Aviv tends to
come alive late in the evening, at about 11pm and places of
entertainment can stay open until the morning hours. In Israel
the weekend starts on Thursday night and Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights are the most active. Sunday is not a "day
of rest" in Israel so you can go out and party on Sunday night
as well. The usual age for admission to bars and clubs is 18 and the legal drinking age in Israel is 18, although there are
some clubs which advertise that they are for under 18s or over 21s, 35 or 40s. Tel-Aviv has a dynamic gay scene and many
straight revelers enjoy the gay clubs as they are some of the best in the city.
Sightseeing in Israel, Jerusalem , Masada, and the Dead Sea
There is so much to see and do in Israel but as most of us are just on a short trip we decided to
highlight the most popular. If you get the opportunity you should try to visit at least one of the these
and in our opinion you are better off on an organised trip rather than venturing off independently.
Trips can be arranged from many of the hotels in Tel Aviv.
Jerusalem (pictured above) a City where you really should try to visit.
The most contested city on earth is also one of the most beautiful. The scope of its history is staggering, and it’s a
vital place in the traditions of all three monotheistic faiths has led to it being fought over continually through the
centuries. This is the heart of the Holy Land; where the Jews raised the First Temple to keep the Ark of the
Covenant safe, where Jesus was crucified and rose again, and where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to
heaven to receive God's word.
Experience two of Israel’s gems, Masada and the Dead Sea Drive through the Judean Desert to the fortress of
Masada, an iconic site in Jewish and Israeli history, this fortress is a symbol of heroism. Enter the National Park
and ascend Masada via the cable car. You will be able to visit the ruins of King Herod’s palace. After visiting the
fortress move on to the calming, healing waters of the Dead Sea …the lowest point on earth in any land mass
(417 meters below sea level, to be exact). The quantity of water that evaporates from it is greater than that
which flows into it, such that this body of water has the highest concentration of salt in the world. It is called the
Dead Sea because its salinity prevents the existence of any life forms in the lake.
Some Facts about Israel
Did you know:  Israel’s land area is roughly the same as Wales’!
The word “Ulpan”, used in Welsh to describe the courses to teach the language, is a
Hebrew word! The courses for teaching Welsh are based on the Israeli Kibbutz model
for teaching Hebrew!
• The state of Israel was established in 1948 by the United Nations.
• Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. It lies at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
• Long and narrow in shape, the country is about 290 miles (470 km.) in length and 85 miles (135 km.) in width
at its widest point.
• Israel is a country of immigrants. Since its inception in 1948, Israel's population has grown almost ten-fold.
Its 8.2 million inhabitants comprise a mosaic of people with varied ethnic backgrounds, lifestyles, religions,
cultures and traditions. Today Jews comprise some 75.4% of the country’s population, while the country's
non-Jewish citizens, mostly Arabs (20.5%), number about 24.6%.
• Israel has at least 75 different archaeological sites, and thousands of important historical discoveries have
been made in Israel.
• Israeli is a leader in innovation having invented the USB stick, instant messaging, cherry tomatoes and much
more!
• Israel's industry concentrates on manufacturing products with a high added value that are primarily based on
technological innovation. These include medical electronics, agro technology, telecommunications, computer
hardware and software, solar energy, food processing and fine chemicals.
• Israel has almost 100 embassies worldwide and has diplomatic relations with 159 countries.
• Tel Aviv was the first fully Hebrew speaking city in the world.
• Haifa is Israel’s most multicultural city, housing numerous religions and ethnicities.
• Israel will be holding general elections in March, so you will see loads of political posters and campaigns
around the country.
• The official languages of the country are Hebrew and Arabic, but in the country’s streets many other
languages can be heard. Hebrew, the language of the Bible, long restricted to liturgy and literature, was
revived a century ago, accompanying the renewal of Jewish life in the Land.
Wear Red for Wales
Clocks go forward one hour in Israel
When local standard time is about to reach
Friday, 27 March 2015, 02:00:00 clocks are turned forward 1 hour to
Friday, 27 March 2015, 03:00:00 local daylight time instead
Haifa
Join the FSF for free please visit http://www.fsf.org.uk/
FSF Cymru Fans Embassy help line
+ 44 7905861848