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THE SUN ALMOST ALWAYS SHINES
April through October are rainless, June
to August are hot summer months.
November to March are winter months with cooler temperatures and rain
although interspersed with many sunny days.
Approximate average Temperatures are:
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JANUARY
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JERUSALEM
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TEL AVIV
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EILAT
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5° to 12° C
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11° to 20° C
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11° to 23° C
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41° to 54° F
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52° to 69° F
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52° to 73° F
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AUGUST
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19° to 28° C
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22° to 30° C
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20° to 39° C
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64° to 82° F
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72° to 86°
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68° to 102° F
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DISTANCES ARE SHORT
Israel is a small
country. The three basic major centers: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa can easily
be reached on leisure touring days without changing hotels, this being
particularly important for short visits.
Modern air-conditioned touring buses, minibuses and limousines are available
to ensure speedy and comfortable transportation.
Drivers and guides are knowledgeable and experienced. Public transport is
excellent. Taxis are easily found.
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CLOTHING
As a rule, dress in Israel is extremely informal, so
casual for daytime, informal for evenings. Bring lightweight clothing, head
covering, comfortable walking shoes and swimwear. Modest attire for visits to
religious sites is required. In Jerusalem
or other hilly areas, a light jacket is recommended.
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SHOPPING
In Israel's major cities, shops are
usually open from 9 am until at least 7 pm from Sunday through Thursday. The
afternoon break or siesta between 1 pm and 4 pm is rapidly becoming a thing
of the past.
More and more shopping malls are being built around the country, offering
even more flexible hours and a cool, air conditioned environment in which to
browse items such as leather, gold, jewelry and diamonds (Israel is the No. 1 exporter of
diamonds). On Fridays, shops usually close between 2 pm - 3:30 pm and most
Jewish establishments do not open on Saturdays.
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BANKING AND CURRENCY
Banks are open every morning from 8:30 am
- 12:30 pm.
Some Commercial and Tourist branches are open until 2 pm, and most banks
offer afternoon banking hours from 4 pm - 6 pm two days a week (varying
according to the bank).
All banks are closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays, but most have
automatic tellers accepting most major international credit cards, against
which cash may be withdrawn.
The unit of currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) usually referred to as
"shekels" and come in a variety of denominations. Each shekel
consists of 100 Agoroth.
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CREDIT CARDS
Most hotels, businesses and restaurants
honor all major world credit cards.
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VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)
VAT exemption or refund generally applies
to goods and services paid by tourists in foreign currency.
VAT is refunded on purchased provided that receipts and refund form are
presented with the merchandise at the airport bank.
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TIME
Israel's standard time is
two hours ahead of GMT, one hour ahead of mid-European time, and seven hours
ahead of USA Eastern Standard Time.
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ELECTRICITY
Power supply is 220 volt, AC 50 cycles,
although most major Hotels usually offer a built-in 110 volt electric razor
transformer.
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LANGUAGES
Although Hebrew and Arabic are Israel's official languages, just standing at
a street corner can be an experience: Passers-by conversing in Hebrew, Arabic,
French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Hungarian, Italian
and English - Israel's
adopted second language, spoken so extensively that even street signs are
also in English.
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CUISINE
Due to the cosmopolitan composition of its
population, cuisine in Israel
is equally varied and restaurants may be found offering delicacies from all
over the world.
Based on traditional Jewish dietary law, Kosher cuisine, or "Kashrut", is observed in almost all hotels and many
restaurants.
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EASY TO GET TO
Israel is extremely
accessible from almost anywhere in the world, with daily direct flight
operating from Europe, North America and many destinations in Africa, Asia
and the Far East.
Many Cruise ships touring the Mediterranean offer Israel
as one of the ports of call (Haifa or Ashdod) and there are also regular sailings of ferries
to these ports from Greece,
Cyprus
and beyond.
Overland travel from Egypt
or Jordan
is also an option.
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PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
In most cases, visitors from North America and Western European countries will be granted
a visa automatically upon arrival.
For specific details, check with the local Israeli embassy or consulate. For
visitors who so request, the visa may be stamped not in the passport but
issued on a separate document.
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TIPPING
Tipping is fairly standard in Israel.
Some restaurants add the service charge to the bill - if not, a tip is
expected. 10 % is the norm.
Usually one tips tour guides and bus drivers, unless otherwise directed by
the Tour Leader or Travel Agent.
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DISTANCES
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JERUSALEM
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TEL AVIV
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HAIFA
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TIBERIAS
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kms.
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miles
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kms.
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miles
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kms.
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miles
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kms.
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miles
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JERUSALEM
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-
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-
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62
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39
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150
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99
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157
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97
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TEL AVIV
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62
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39
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-
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-
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95
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59
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132
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82
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HAIFA
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159
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99
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59
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56
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-
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-
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69
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43
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TIBEBIAS
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157
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97
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132
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82
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69
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43
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-
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-
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BEERSHEVA
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84
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52
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113
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70
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210
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130
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236
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147
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AKKO
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181
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112
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117
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73
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22
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14
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56
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35
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ARAD
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104
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65
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158
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98
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255
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158
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232
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144
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ASHKELON
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73
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45
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63
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39
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160
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99
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197
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122
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BANIAS
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227
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141
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202
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125
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126
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78
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70
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43
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ASHKELON
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73
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45
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63
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39
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160
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99
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197
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122
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DEAD SEA
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127
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79
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189
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117
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248
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154
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218
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135
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EILAT
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312
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194
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354
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220
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451
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280
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403
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250
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JERICHO
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39
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24
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101
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63
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148
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92
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118
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73
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MITZPE RAMON
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167
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104
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196
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122
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293
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182
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319
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198
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NAZARETH
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157
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97
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102
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63
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35
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22
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29
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18
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NETANYA
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93
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58
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29
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18
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66
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41
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103
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64
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REHOVOT
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53
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33
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24
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15
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121
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75
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158
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98
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ROSH HANIKRA
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201
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125
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137
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85
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42
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26
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76
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47
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SAFED
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192
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120
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168
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104
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72
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45
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36
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22
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ZICHRON YAACOV
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121
|
75
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69
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43
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38
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24
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78
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48
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Page 1
(click here for next page….)
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Copyright © 2007
Diesenhaus Unitours Ltd. All rights reserved.
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