United State of Israel

Jewish refugees from Arab-Muslim countries - The Arab countries had persecuted and expelled over a million Jewish families (who lived there for over 2,400 years) from their countries, confiscated their assets, businesses, homes and Real estate property 75,000 sq. mi.. Over 670,00 Jewish families and their children of these expelled Jewish people and their children were resettled in Greater

Israel

. Today over half the population in

Israel

is the Jewish families expelled from Arab-Muslim countries. The Land the Arab countries confiscated from the Jewish people 120,440 sq. km. or 75,000 sq. miles, which is over 6 times the size of

Israel

, and its value today is the trillions of dollars.

About 300,000 Jewish families expelled from Arab-Muslim countries resettled in Western countries. Due to natural population growth, the number of the Jewish people expelled from Arab-Muslim countries, number today over 8 million families.
YJ Draiman

Why Was a Nazi Flag Flying from a Jerusalem Hotel FAST in the 1930's? - Jerusalem Pearl Hotel - Draiman

Why Was a Nazi Flag Flying from a Jerusalem Hotel FAST in the 1930's?

It was replaced by The Jerusalem Pearl Hotel in 1995 by the Draiman family. See picture at the bottom.

Posted: 30 Aug 2015 11:11 AM PDT

We recently published pictures from the British Library's Endangered Archives Program, including this incredible picture of Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem's Old City which we have dated to the mid-1890s. Only in 1898 was the wall near Jaffa Gate breached so that carriages could drive into the city.

Jaffa Gate and A(braham) Fast's restaurant. (Debbas Collection, British Library)

We wanted to know more about the store on the left with the sign "A Fast. Restauranteur." Was this a tourist establishment of Abraham Fast, who in 1907 took over a large hotel several hundred meters to the west of the building pictured above and renamed it "Hotel Fast?"

German troops marching in Jerusalem on Good Friday,

April 6, 1917. The building on the left is
the Fast Hotel. (Imperial War Museum, UK)

It was a leading hotel with 100 rooms, built around a court yard with Ionic, Corinthian and Doric columns.

Hotel Fast and its kosher restaurant was a well-known establishment in Jerusalem for decades, and was probably considered by many to be a Jewish-owned establishment because of its Jewish clientele.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Fasts were German Templers.


The German consulate in the Fast Hotel, 1933. (Wikimedia, Tamar Hayardeni)

They lived in Jerusalem's German Colony and were exiled by the British after World War I and during World War II because of their support for Germany.

We recently uncovered pictures of German troops marching in Jerusalem streets on Good Friday 1917. Readers were able to identify the building on the left as the Fast Hotel.

Our biggest surprise was finding this picture of the German consulate in the Hotel Fast with the German Swastika flag flying from the building.

During World War II, the hotel was taken over by the British army command and turned into the Australian army club.

The Hotel Fast housed Australian soldiers in World War II. Here they are greeting the Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies and the commander of the Australian troops in Australia,
Lt. Gen. Thomas Blamey in February 1941. The Matson Photo Service, shown on the ground floor, was run by Eric Matson, originally from the American Colony Photographic Department.
Matson left Palestine in 1946 for the United States. His collection of photos were bequeathed to the Library of Congress where many of the pictures in this
website were found. (Library of Congress)

The Hotel Fast building was abandoned in 1967 and torn down in 1976 to make way for the Dan Pearl Hotel - Built by the Draiman family in 1995.

Eilat
Hebrew: eylat
Other spellings: Elat, Elath, Eloth

Town in southern Israel with 47,000 inhabitants (2008 estimate), on the Gulf of Aqaba, connected to the Red Sea.
Eilat's economy is linked both to activities of the port and tourism. Exports over the port are largely minerals from the Dead Sea, imports are metal, sugar, electronic equipment and automobiles. Much of this is facilitated by the free trade zone established here in 1985. Tourism benefits from year long season, clear waters with corals and a rich marine life. An oil line from Egypt to Ashkelon passes through Eilat, but is of moderate importance to the local economy.
Eilat is relatively isolated from the rest of Israel, but highways have been improved in recent years, and there are regular air services, both domestic (Jerusalem) and international. The border between Israel and Jordan is open, connecting Eilat to Aqaba 6 km southeast.
Modern Eilat is an open well-designed town, with shopping areas and a number of luxury hotels. The main attractions are with the coral reefs, like the Coral World Underwater Observatory which is built into a coral reef, the Coral Reserve, an offshore nature park and the Dolphin Reef, which has exactly the attractions which the name indicates

History
Early 1st millennium BCE: Eilat is mentioned in the Bible several times. Still, the settlement of ancient Eloth, corresponds to territory across the border, on the Jordanian side. King Solomon establishes a port named Eziot Geber here.
4th century: Is a border stronghold of the Nabateans.
7th century: Jews flee to Eilat to escape persecution from Muslim Arabs conquering Palestine.
1116: Conquered by Christian Crusaders.
1167: Reconquered by the Muslims under the command of Saladin.
1588: The Ottomans builds a fort far to the east of Eilat, making the port irrelevant and abandoned.
1922: Becomes part of the British mandate over Palestine.
1948: According to the UN Partition Plan, the point of Umm Rashrash, the abandoned frontier outpost at the Gulf of Aqaba and the place of future Eilat is rewarded to the forthcoming Jewish state. During the First Palestinian War, the Egyptians takes control over Umm Rashrash.
1949 March 10: As the last Israeli operation of the First Palestinian War, Israeli forces cross 240 km of desert from Beer Sheva to Umm Rashrash. Eilat is founded.
1951: A port is established at Eilat.
1956: The port of Eilat is enlarged following the Suez-Sinai War, when Egyptian control over the Strait of Tiran (entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba) is broken.
1959: Eilat is incorporated into Israel.
1967: Following the Six-Day War, the Suez Canal is closed, and Eilat start serving the needs of international shipping, bringing strong growth to the town. This would last until 1975, when Egypt reopened the Suez Canal.
1985: A tax-free zone is declared at Eilat.

Guide to Mitzpe Ramon and the Surrounding Negev Desert

By Petal Mashraki | Published on 11/20/2018

5 min

The small community of Mitzpe Ramon in southern Israel sits on the edge of Makhtesh Ramon (the Ramon Crater); a 38 km wide crater formed thousands of years ago. Perched on the northern ridge of the crater, overlooking the Negev Desert, Mitzpe Ramon has breathtaking views across the desert and plenty to see and do.

The community was founded in 1951 to accommodate workers constructing the road to Eilat. Immigrants from Romania and North Africa settled here and the town grew to be a thriving community and the gateway to the Negev. Although Mitzpe Ramon is in the desert it enjoys relatively cool weather thanks to the winds which blow in across the crater to the elevated town. Mitzpe Ramon even experiences snow several times a year. In recent years the area has become a center for organic farming, homemade food products, spiritual retreats and natural living. A visit to Mitzpe Ramon offers a completely fresh and unique experience unlike anything you could experience in any other part of Israel.

Getting to Mitzpe Ramon

If arriving from Tel Aviv take the #40 highway south to Mitzpe Ramon; the town is about 85 km south of Be’er Sheva. If setting out in Tel Aviv you can take #660 and from Jerusalem bus #470. Trains travel from Tel Aviv arriving in Be’er Sheva and from there you can continue on to Mitzpe Ramon by bus #65 or #64. Driving from Tel Aviv to Mitzpe Ramon will take you about 1.15 hours and the bus or train and bus combo will take you 1.15-3 hours. Once in Mitzpe Ramon you can explore the town on foot or by car and take organized excursions into the desert.

Mitzpe Ramon Accommodation

There are about six hotels in Mitzpe Ramon including the famous Beresheet Hotel, a luxury hotel of the Isrotel chain which overlooks the crater. Each room has views of the crater and there are spa treatments on offer as well as gourmet food. Chez Eugene is a recommended chic boutique hotel and there is also the Ramon Suites Hotel and Ramon Inn. In the surrounding areas there are many B&Bs and small inns as well as camp grounds. Try the ibex Unique Desert Inn or Khan Be’erotayim for a desert experience. Budget accommodation can be found at the Green Backpackers Hostel, Mitzpe Ramon Hostel or the basic Succah in the Desert.

Mitzpe Ramon Eateries

The region is known for its organic farms and traditionally edible products like honey, wine, cheese, yogurt and olive oil. Among the top rated restaurants in Mitzpe Ramon there is Hahavit (the Barrel) a bar/restaurant with standard pub food; Beresheet Dairy Restaurant in the Beresheet Hotel has stunning views and Hakatze serves hearty Israeli food in simple surroundings. At Hadassar Natural Living Restaurant you can enjoy locally sourced, organic, vegetarian fare in bohemian-style surroundings. Other dining options are the generic Café Neto, an Israeli coffee house chain and fine dining at Chez Eugene.

Attractions in Mitzpe Ramon & the Negev

1. Ramon Crater and Makhtesh Ramon Visitor Center

The crater (makhtesh) is 38 km long, 6 km wide and 450 meters deep; this natural wonder looks like something out of a space odyssey. At the Makhtesh Visitor Center you can get a bird’s eye view across the crater and learn about the history, facts and figures of the site. To really experience the crater take one of the themed excursions by jeep or on foot into the heart of the makhtesh.

2. Ein Avdat National Park

Nestled in the Zin Valley this national park centers on the Ein Avdat Spring which flows to a beautiful 8 meter high waterfall and pours into a pool below. The water attracts local wildlife and allows vegetation and trees to grow around the oasis. There are several streams in the park and hike trails through the canyon and along the water’s edge. If you like this attraction you should also visit Ein Gedi by the Dead Sea.

3. Alpaca Farm

This fun attraction is home to a herd of alpacas and lamas; the farm also offers accommodation and light meals. A visit includes feeding the alpacas and getting an informative talk from one of the guides.

4. Nabatean Avdat Acropolis

The ancient Nabatean civilization set up rest points along the spice route which ran from the Arabian peninsula north to Syria and the Mediterranean. The remains of some of these Nabatean cities include the khan or roadside motel where they had a wine cellar and mud brick structures. Another Nabatean site in the area is the Ramalia Cisterns, huge wells which were dug out by the ancient civilization to preserve water.

5. Desert Jeep Tour

A desert jeep excursion is the perfect way to discover the crater and the surrounding desert. The thrill of bumping and jumping over rough terrain in unforgettable. Jeep tours can take you to nearby Zin Valley or into the crater and you can see stunning scenery, camels grazing, local Bedouin and shepherds herding their goats. Many of the tours combine the jeep trip with a stop for coffee in the desert, a dip in a desert spring or to show you geological wonders.

6. Mitzpe Ramon “north”

The old industrial zone of Mitzpe Ramon has been gentrified and turned into a hub of boutique specialty stores and places of entertainment. Check out the bakeries, restaurants, craft workshops, Mitzpe Ramon Jazz Club and Faran cosmetics factory where the products are inspired by the natural surroundings.

7. Rappelling

Rappelling or abseiling down the cliffs of the Ramon Crater is a once in a lifetime experience – not just because of the actual activity but also because of the unique location and views as you descend. Several companies in Mitzpe Ramon lead visitors to the edge of the cliff (literally). You don’t need any prior experience, just the guts to hang yourself over the side of a cliff on a rope!

8. Stargazing

From Mitzpe Ramon you can take a stargazing excursion into the desert where there is very little artificial light from cities and the wide open sky can be seen unhindered by skyscrapers or city pollution. Ira and Pam Machefsky run Astronomy Israel; they take visitors to the rim of the crater and set up telescopes, provide a warm blanket and explain the night sky with enthusiasm and humor.

9. Rota Winery

North of Kibbutz Revivim on route #222 is this organic winery where there are wine and cheese tasting as well as tours of the farm. Erez Rota is an artist who used to live in Tel Aviv before moving south and establishing his farm. His metal sculptured art installations can be seen scattered across the farm.

10. Neve Midbar

This mineral water health spa features natural thermal bath waters. It is located off route #222 and offers use of the pools plus the option for spa treatments at an additional fee. Visitors can enjoy the coffee bar and cafe.

11. Neot Smadar Goat Farm

Here you can get a picnic basket filled with the delicious locally produced cheeses and yogurts made using milk from the 150 strong herd of goats. At the farm there is a café and store where you can by the goat milk products. The store also sells organic products produced on the kibbutz.

12. Bedouin Tent Experience

Visit a real Bedouin tent in the middle of the desert. Visitors can join the Bedouins of the Negev for some dates and black coffee and have the opportunity to see how Bedouin live. Some of the Bedouin offer tours into the desert where they explain about the foraging of food in the harsh surroundings and about the plants they use for traditional medicine. There are Bedouin tent experiences which include a meal, entertainment and even an overnight stay in the tent.

Why Was a Nazi Flag Flying from a Jerusalem Hotel FAST in the 1930's? - Jerusalem Pearl Hotel - Draiman

Facts About Israel: History

TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Haifa

Residents of this city benefit from a Periphery Income Tax Break on salary earned, after having resided in the city for one year.