For instant news about Israel, updated throughout the day, the best sites are those of the newspapers Ha’aretz (in English) www.haaretz.com and the Jerusalem Post www.jpost.com which has a link from its site to English-language news broadcasts available around the clock.
While all the Israeli government departments, from that of the Prime Minister down, have their own websites loaded with information about every aspect of life in Israel and Israel’s relations with her neighbours and the rest of the world, the best way to access these sites is via the comprehensive link www.info.gov.il – just click on the “English” link when the Hebrew page opens.
If you cannot find what you want anywhere else, there’s a cornucopia of information about Israel, from the serious to the lighthearted, on the site labelled www.thesourceisrael.com and a comprehensive tourist guide, with loads of practical information, at www.infotour.co.il
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, Givat Ram, offer a 30-acre retreat close to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and Israel Museums. Divided into geographical sections, the Gardens hold 10,000 species – the largest plant collection in the country. Visitors can relax aboard the Flower Train, or wander along enchanting, leafy paths. Highlights include a colorful indoor tropical conservatory (currently closed for renovation), a Plants of the Bible trail, a herb and medicinal plant garden, and an African savannah grass maze. The Gardens run a variety of festivals and activities throughout the year, and boast a picturesque lakeside restaurant (“Caffit BeGan”, kosher dairy) and plant nursery. A Children’s Discovery Path will open in 2014. www.en.botanic.co.il
As its URL suggests, www.ilmuseums.com provides a guide to all the museums of Israel – from the world-class Israel Museum in Jerusalem to a collection of musical instruments, The Music Box, housed in a private home in Metullah near Israel’s border with Lebanon where you will be received with a cup of coffee and a warm welcome.
One of the best museum sites is that of Beth Hatefutsot, the Diaspora museum, in Tel Aviv which not only provides an online tour of its exhibits but also hosts a special exhibition on the life of Jews in Arab lands today, with audio examples of their music. The address is www.bh.org.il
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If none of these provides you with what you are looking for, contact us at the Anglo-Israel Association – info@angloisraelassociation.com – and we will try and help.