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TOURISM
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Means
of Transportation
Due to its strategic location, Palestine is the transit
point between three continents, Africa, Europe and Asia,
including the Arab Peninsula, moving goods and people
through land, sea and air to its neighboring regions.
Air Transportation
Air
travel is now possible through the newly opened Gaza
Airport, or via Ben -Gurion Airport that is situated
midway between Jerusalem & Tel Aviv.
Land Transportation
Jordan
and Egypt have open land borders with Palestine. Jordan
connects via three borders: Allenby Bridge, King Hussein
Border (towards the north) and Arava Border (towards the
south). As for Egypt, it connects via Rafah Border and
Tabaa Border.
Maritime
Transportation
The
Holy Land is connected to mainland Europe by a regular
ferry service between Haifa and Piraeus, near Athens in
Greece. The Piraeus-Haifa journey takes about 58 hours.
The Red Sea is also another way of crossing to Palestine
through Egypt.
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Historical
and Holy Sites
Jerusalem
Every
visitor to Palestine must visit the Old City of
Jerusalem. Jerusalem is over 5000 years old (a Canaanite
city), though its present architecture is much more
recent, dating at the earliest from a few centuries
after Christ. Its walls were built during the time of
the Ottoman ruler Suleiman and the Dome of the rock
still dominates its skyline. |
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Bethlehem
This
is an important city in Palestine due to its
significance to Christianity. Although its origins date
back to the Canaanite times, the birth of Christ has
trust this small rose-colored city into the forefront of
the holy cities. The city boasts many sites including
the Church of the Nativity, which according to
tradition, is the very place where Christ was born. |
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Jericho
Jericho
lies 35 km (22 miles) east of Jerusalem near the lowest
point on earth below sea level. It is the oldest
continuously inhabited town in the world. On a mountain
overlooking the Jericho oasis, excavations have
uncovered settlements dating from 9000 BC and the oldest
walled town ever discovered (7000 BC). The Jordan River
runs close by, and the Mount of Temptation towers over
the ancient city. Jericho is a must for the visitor: the
history is enthralling, and the climate is
exhilarating—especially in the winter, spring and
autumn, when the temperatures are rather mild. |
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The
Jordan River
The
Jordan River is an unusual waterway that flows from
3,000 feet above sea level at Mt. Hermon in Syria to the
Dead Sea at 1,300 feet below sea level. This river is a
significant place where crucial religious events
occurred on its banks. Jesus came to the Jordan River
from Galilee to be baptized by John the Baptism. Since
then, the river has been important to all Christians,
many of whom still get baptized there. |
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Gaza
Strip
History
situated on the western Mediterranean seashore 32 km.
North of the Egyptian border.
Gaza
is considered one of the most ancient and historic towns
in the world. Strategically located on the
Mediterranean coastal route, ancient Gaza was a
prosperous trade center and a stop on the caravan route
between Egypt and Syria. The city was first inhabited by
the Canaanites and occupied by Egypt in the 15th
century BC. |
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Several
Hundred years later, Gaza became a chief Philistine City. Gaza
is mentioned a number of times in the Bible especially as the
site where Samson brought down the Philistine temple on
himself and his enemies. Captured by the Muslims around 600
AD, Gaza is the site where Prophet Mohammed’s grandfather
was buried. Consequently, the city became an important
Islamic center. In the early 12th century, the
Crusaders, who built many churches, but returned to Muslim
control in 1187, occupied it. Today Gaza is the economic
center for a region where citrus fruits and other crops are
grown.
The
city is famous for it’s hand-woven carpets, cane furniture
and pottery.
Also
for its fresh seafood, Gaza has numerous restaurants and
hotels along the beach as well as public parks where visitors
can enjoy the pleasant Mediterranean breeze.
Nightlife
in Gaza offers visitors’ enjoyable evenings, of music and
dance at the beach hotels.
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BETHLEHEM
2000 PROJECT
The
Bethlehem 2000 Project was established in March 1997 through a
presidential decree and was declared to be a high priority
project for the Palestinian people. The local advantages of
this project are the kind of development needs that are
fundamental for the whole of Palestine and the West Bank in
particular. The objectives are:
Encouragement
of tourists and pilgrims to visit Bethlehem
and celebrate the millennium
Creation
of employment opportunities
Improvement
of infrastructure
Encouragement
of private sector investment
Upgrading
and expanding of services (e.g. roads, utilities)
Growth
of living conditions
Revival
of Palestinian culture and heritage
To
achieve the ambitious goals of the Bethlehem 2000 Project,
major efforts have been launched, including the preparations
of several events, development projects, cultural heritage
events, promotions, and international fund-raising.
The
international organizations fully committed to Bethlehem 2000
include the European Union, UNDP, UNESCO, and the World Bank.
All are providing assistance in the fields of planning,
fund-raising, infrastructure, restoration and preservation of
cultural heritage, event management and tourism promotion.
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