1. Where is it Located – Most persons in the real estate business will agree that this is the most important consideration in buying a new property in Israel. Where is the property located? Is the location prime? Is the neighborhood quiet? How close are key places like eateries, grocery stores, and gyms from the property? Does a major road pass nearby? (This one is important if you are buying a residential property. You do not want to buy a property that will be bordered by a busy motorway)

2. Plans – Looking at three dimensional representations of the apartment may be a good idea. This will enable you to see a true picture of how that building will look like on completion. This is because some people do not get the full picture when looking at architectural drawings. Properties developed in Israel at this time mostly have these visuals. Ask for it from the promoters and spend quality time looking at it. Compare it with other properties you have been shown and make an informed decision.

3. Financials – When you go out to buy oranges, making a mistake in price may be a small matter. When you want to buy a property in Israel, however, making a mistake in price will be very expensive indeed. So by all means do not be in a hurry. Carefully review the price on paper and ensure you understand the price you may pay that may not appear on paper. These additional payments may include agent and legal fees.

4. The View – What view does the apartment command? What do you have to look at from your balcony, roof chamber or windows? Is it an appealing site? Sometimes even appealing views do not last because other developments may crop up at the same sites. Can you ask for future developments in the area? Having this information may prepare you for any changes that come up in the future. Where you have options in property, it may help you make a better long term decision as to which property to choose.

5. State – You have to be sure of the time left before completion of the project. If there are some customizations you would prefer, is there still time to get them done? If you require some alterations to the original design, will you have to ask for it at this point?

Taking all these into consideration, you stand a better chance of buying a property in Israel that you will enjoy for a long time to come.

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Working practices in Israel

One of the first things you have to learn about how to do business in Israel is that business is not conducted on Saturday as this is the Jewish Sabbath day. The working week in Israel starts on Sunday. So people work from Sunday to Thursday, as the Sabbath runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is not uncommon for business appointments to be made at very short notice. Despite the brief notice, partners are expected to be prompt for the appointment. You may already know that English is widely spoken by the new generation of Israelis, and that English can be said to be the language of business. However, it is always a pleasant surprise for Israelis to hear you say at least a few words of greetings in Hebrew.

It is worthy of note that traditionally, the position of women in Israel is inferior to that of men. This is as a result of religious influences. With the westernization of Tel Aviv and other commercial hubs in Israel, women are increasingly accessing challenging positions that were earlier out of their reach.

Working relationships in Israel

The working atmosphere and dress code in Israel is predominantly casual, so do not find it strange if you find people wearing jeans in the workplace. This does not mean doing business in Israel is a casual affair. It is strongly recommended that until you are very familiar with your business partners, you dress formally for business appointments. Colleagues in Israel traditionally address each other by first name. Do not be embarrassed if a colleague at the workplace calls you by first name. It is a sign of friendship and a mark of familiarity. When dealing with business partners, it is however advisable to address each other formally until you have attained a certain level of familiarity. When you are both comfortable with it, you can get on via a first name basis.

Business practices in Israel

Israelis are achievement oriented. This means that they may prefer to get things done quickly. Do not let projects linger for too long. Plan projects against shorter time-scales instead of a longer time scales. Business negotiations can be very tough. However, it remains to say that no matter how tough it gets, the negotiations remain friendly. Putting details of agreements in writing is quite wise. Those who do not know how to do business in Israel think they can go far without putting things in writing. When you reach an agreement, the written word has more respect in Israel than fragments of memory.

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If you are planning on going to Israel, where do you want to reside during the period that you will be there? There are many beautiful hotels in Israel with top notch service that you cannot afford to miss.  Hotels in Israel vary a lot depending on what you want. If you are on a budget, you can go to a smaller hotel and if you are willing to spend more, there are hotels that will offer you good accommodation.

I am going to mention to you some hotels in Israel that you would want to visit the next time you go to Israel. The first hotel is the Dan hotel Tel Aviv. This hotel is basically in the middle of almost everything. It is closer to most beaches and the prime shopping centers. The Dan Hotel is near the nightlife and major business districts and an ideal place for a fun and sun vacation. It is also best for a business trip that is high pressure. The hotel has special lounges and services that will cater to all the special needs of the executive that are traveling. You will be welcomed to fine dining, luxurious accommodations and a humongous sea view pool.

The next hotel that I am going to talk about is the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. This hotel is overlooking the old city walls. It is the latest and most stylish hotel in Israel. The David Citadel is not far from Library Bell Park. It is also a minutes’ drive to Yad Vashem museum. It has many guest rooms and suites that offer state of the art services and facilities. Some of the rooms also have views of the old city.

The third hotel is the Sharon Beach Hotel. It is located near the Herzlia sea shore fifteen minutes drive on the north of Tel- Aviv. The Hotel is near the colorful De-Schalit restaurants and shops. Sharon Hotel offers the tourists very comfortable guest rooms and this also includes 24 large garden rooms and some nice Junior Suites.

Lastly, there is the Haifa tower hotel. It is located in the central Hadar which is near the major shopping area in the city and some tourist entertainment centers. It is near history museums that will jog your mind down memory lane. The hotel has many beautiful rooms and is facing the Mount Carmel. These are just some of the hotels in Israel that you might want to visit. There are many other hotels however many people regard these as the best.

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Official Languages

Currently, Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic. The Hebrew language became extinct for centuries but was revived in the late 19th century by Jewish Zionist Immigrants. Lately, several regulations and language policies have been adopted to give the Hebrew language the prime status among the languages and dialects of Israel. Now, Hebrew is the official language used in government announcements, court sessions, schools and universities. Arabic, along with Hebrew is the other official language of Israel. Arabic is extensively spoken by Arab citizens, Israeli Druze, and also by Yemenite and Mizrahi Jews. The government of Israel was always reluctant to use Arabic but the Supreme Court ruling in November 2000 made the language to be extensively used just as the Hebrew language. Arabic is now taught as a mandatory subject even in Hebrew speaking schools.

English

In practice the use of the English language decreased dramatically after Israel gained independence from British Mandate rule. Today, the English language is used for foreign exchange and international relations because of its world wide acceptance. English is also used as a second language in learning institutions, for both Arabic and Hebrew speaking students. In spite of long relations with Britain, written English in Israel uses American grammar and spelling. English language is not used in the Knesset debate and judiciary system. It’s a semi-official language in Israel.

Other Non- Official Languages

Due to the huge influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, several languages and dialects have been introduced in Israel. Big bulks of these immigrants speak their native languages. Some of the main non-official languages spoken after English include:

Russian

It’s the second most widely spoken non- official language after English. Around 20% of Israelis speak Russian fluently, due to the influence of immigrants from the USSR. The Russian language is semi-official in some areas and the authorities of Israel and businesses frequently provide information in the Russian language.

Romanian

This language was introduced to Israel by the Romanian immigrants. It is estimated that there are more than a half a million Romanian-speakers in Israel.

Yiddish

Yiddish is a Germanic language and is the second most widely spoken Jewish language. It is the language of the Ashkenazi Jews. However, the use of Yiddish language has been on the decline due the ban introduced during Israeli’s early statehood.

German

The language was primarily used during the mandate period and also during the early statehood. The language is still spoken by hundreds of Israelis.

Amharic

Amharic language is spoken by Ethiopian Jews. Ethiopian immigrants arrived in Israel in 1984 and in 1990. Amharic is frequently used in publications and announcements by the Israeli government.

Ladino

It’s the third most widely spoken Jewish language. Ladino is a language heavily borrowed from medieval Spanish and Hebrew. The main speakers of Ladino are Sephardi Jews. The state of Israel has established several initiatives to preserve Ladino culture.

Polish

Polish is spoken by immigrants from Poland. Its common in workers’ settlements created in the 1940s.

Spanish

This language is spoken by immigrants from Spain and other Spanish speaking countries. Spanish is only taught in learning institutions as a foreign language.

French

French is spoken by Maghrebi Jews and immigrants from France and other French speaking countries. For a long time the French language has been used as the diplomatic language of the state of Israel. The French language is still taught in many learning institutions.

Other languages spoken and used in the state of Israel include Italian, Persian, Chinese, Thai, Marathi, Bukhori, Ukrainian, Syriac, Kayla, Qwara and Israeli sign languages.

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One of the first things you should know on a visit to Israel would be that Saturday is the Jewish day of rest, and that most businesses shut down on this day. Buses and trains will not run and almost all commercial activity will be at a standstill. It is important to note that this is one of the most important customs in Israel. So do not try to offer material inducement to any Israeli in exchange for their breaking the Shabbat. Because of the secular nature of Tel Aviv, you may still be able to get a certain level of services in that city. Taxis and buses run, and some businesses open for business. Outside Tel Aviv, however, you may have great difficulty getting any service during the Shabbat. So travel with that in mind.

Entering Religious Neighborhoods

A lot of first time visitors to Tel Aviv come expecting something out of biblical times. Most likely, they expect that the customs in Israel will still match what they have read in the bible. Tel Aviv however is a modern city, and you can dress and walk as you would in any other big city in the world. When you are visiting a religious site, or entering into Jerusalem as a whole, women are required to use some head covering. Their dresses should not expose their legs and arms. Obviously, that means that the use of shorts and sleeveless tops would not be appropriate considering the customs in Israel. It is also not the custom in Israel to show affection publicly. That would imply that hugs, the holding of hands, and all sort of acts of endearment are best left for when you are in private. If you own a camera, it will also be wise to be careful as to when and how you take photographs of people in religious sites.

Getting Directions

One thing I have noticed about the customs in Israel is the natural inclination to be of help to strangers. Israel is one of the least likely places where one would be lost in the middle of a crowded city. They will always be happy to answer whatever questions you may have. But a word of caution is necessary at this point: Sometimes the desire of Israelis to sound off their mastery of English on a native speaker may get in the way of their directions. So they may be more interested in having a chit-chat with you than actually getting you to your destination as fast as possible. So if you are not pressed for time, this would be an opportunity for you to do some social tourism.

Give back

Give a little of your English language skills for what you need! It will also be wise if you confirm directions from at least three persons before you take it as fact. This is because sometimes honest directions may lose their meaning in the translation. For instance, an Israeli’s efforts to tell you that he “is not quite sure, but take the turn that is far left” may become “take the turn at the far left” because of their limited English skills.

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In the Western world, Jews are often considered “white” or “European”. It is because the huge preponderance of Jews in the majority of these countries are of Ashkenazi origin. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew word for Germany, although it has come to mean non-Mediterranean European Jews. Unlike Western countries, they do not dominate the Ashkenazi Jewish population in Israel. In fact, until the mass immigration of Jews from the previous Soviet Union in the 1990s, Ashkenazi Jews were a minority in Israel. These days they are the type called ”Sephardim”.

Sephardi is the Hebrew word for Spain. This word is frequently misguidedly used to categorize all non-Ashkenazi Jews; many of them have no Spanish tradition. Debarred from Spain in 1492, a lot of Sephardic Jews made their path to the Ottoman Empire. Sephardic Jews mixed with other Jewish populations that were there, allocating their culture with them strongly. These other communities are called “Eidot HaMizrach” or “Eastern Jews.”

Another group with roots in ancient times are the Karites, who separated from mainstream Judaism over 1000 years ago and even though their numbers have dwindled over the years, there are still a few communities here in Israel. In more contemporary times, Israel has received more than 1 million Jews from the former Soviet Union, although many of them are not technically Jewish according to Jewish custom.

Christians represent 2.5% of the total population of Israel. Most are Christian Arabs. Most of them live in the north to the center of Nazareth. One of the most interesting things is that the Armenians who assert to be the first nation as a nation to switch to Christianity in three hundred and first they manage one of the four quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Muslims are about 18% of the population of Israel. While 99.9% of them are Sunni Muslims, there is also a number of motivating minority groups. The Bedouin in Israel has a population of approximately 170,000. Traditionally, they continued a nomadic existence to move with their herds and live in tents, but today the vast majority live in permanent housing. There are seven recognized Bedouin towns in the south of the country, although many are unknown.

Samaritans declare descent from remnants of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who remained in the country after the Assyrian assault, 2700 years ago, although the Jewish sources say differently. Today the number is only about 700 people in two communities, one near Nablus in the West Bank and one in the Israeli town of Holon.

Israel has in recent years a number of African refugees, particularly in Sudan, members of the South Lebanon Army and their families who fled here after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, and 66 Vietnamese “Boat People “.

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What is it about this country that people who live in it are geniuses? Well, you just have to see the famous places to visit in Israel. The first place that I think you should see is where the Crusaders left a mark. It is very visible across Israel’s landscape even though it has been close to a thousand years since they were last in Israel. There are very many Crusader attraction sites and more than a thousand places of crusader importance that have been positively identified. Remember the era of the crusaders? I am sure most of you have seen movies about them and wondered how you could get to know more about them. Well, Israel is the answer.

When you travel across Israel, you are bound to find places that have biblical significance. You can visit Aphek, Mt. Tabor and even the Valley of Elah. You can literally walk in the footsteps of David, Solomon and the giant Goliath. You can feel the breeze of the war between the Philistines and the Israelites. You can visit the place where the Israelites suffered their greatest defeat and the Ark of the Covenant was taken from them.

Another place you can visit is one of the bird observatories. Israel is known to have a number of bird species especially from the Biblical times. Remember the ravens that served Elijah in the forest or the birds that went into Noah’s ark? Yes…this is the place where you can witness all of them. You can even visit Israel’s newest National Park so that you see animals that you have never seen before as this country has unique animal species.

Israel is again quite known for wine production and considering Jesus time, they are known for wine changing. Here, there are 145 wineries. Some produce as little as 600 bottles while others can produce up to 13 million bottles annually. Boutique wineries are also on the rise. You can decide to visit one of these wineries and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed as there are a number of these wineries that offer wine tastings.

If you love buildings, you can visit Tel Aviv. It is the only city in the world that has a large collection of Bauhaus style buildings. Another interesting place to visit is the Judean Hills. It is a short ride from Jerusalem (a good site also). In these hills, you can encounter wonders such as Beit Shemesh, Beit Jamal, Ein Karem, and Sataf. There are many other places to visit, be it the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus was born and so on. All you need to do is get a plane to Israel.

Going for tourism in Israel is an extraordinary kind of experience one can go through. There is nothing that is as magnificent as this Mediterranean country. There is a magical religious mix, nightlife, nature and all life’s pleasures that can only be imagined in the thoughts of a tourist.

Why should you ever consider visiting Israel?

This is a land of very many attractions. It is the land that has featured most in the bible and it is also known as the land of God. Going to Israel is going to take you way back into the times of Jesus. There are a lot of activities that you can engage in and places to visit that will really fascinate you.

However, amidst all these marvelous wonders of Israel, there is still the wonder of war that is really making people to think twice before visiting this perfect tourist destination. Questions have come up regarding the safety of tourism in Israel. There are people who are of the belief that it is not safe. Some say that crime rates in Israel are just too high to an extent that it is not safe for any tourist. The things mentioned above are not so true because Israel is one of the few countries that is safe to be in. However, a point to note is that though the claims above are not true, it is important to keep safe.

Precautions that you should take include going in a group. It is an obvious thing that you cannot visit a foreign land that you do not know all by yourself. Going in a group provides companionship and it will make you feel more secure. Precaution two is to get qualified guides who will drive you around and have a good understanding of the city. Always ensure that your guide has all the communication tools and gadgets. This will enable the main station to know where you are all the time. The guide will also keep you protected as you will be shown all the right places.

The third safety precaution that should be taken when touring Israel is avoiding religious clashes. Israel is a land of diverse religions with different worldviews, it is therefore necessary to keep any belief you have to yourself. Do not go there and start looking down on one religion. It will only bring panic and misunderstanding. Always maintain your peace and calm and it will help you very much. Israel is a friendly nation with friendly people. If you want to have a good time, be good to the people and they will be good to you.

Israel is a very unique country in spectacular ways. Talk about the amazing beauty, the ancient history and the rich culture that goes back thousands and thousands of years. The land is slightly smaller than the all known state of New Jersey. Israel has significant types of various landforms, from plains to beaches to mountains to valley to deserts. With the long summers and abnormally short winters, Israel is a tourist destination that is key.

Amidst all these interesting amazing things, there are five interesting facts about Israel that you need to know.

1. Pre historic ancient times of Israel.

Israel is also known as a holy land. This is because during the biblical times, God referred to the Israelites as His people and the land to be his. This land was occupied by the Canaanites and some other Semitic people over three thousand years ago. The Israelites otherwise known as Hebrews and the children of Israel, relocated into this area between the year one thousand eight hundred and one thousand five hundred BC. Israel has experienced many wars and has been ruled by Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Persians.

2. Tourism

This is usually one of the most crucial sources of income in Israel. Many tourists travel from all walks of the world just to visit Israel due to the diverse archaeological, historical and religious sites to be seen. The beaches, museums, resorts and nature reserves in Israel are commonly known around the world which has helped in drawing people from all cultures. Many of the service industries in Israel such as the hotels and restaurants are tourist supported. This is evident because in 2009 there were more than two million tourists in Israel.

3. Religion

There are a variety of religious views and affiliations in Israel. The people who are over twenty years of age say that fifty five percent are what is known as traditional Jews, twenty per cent say that they are secular Jews. Sixteen percent of the population are Muslims and two percent Christians and one point five percent are known as Druze.

4. Education

Children between the ages of three to eighteen are supposed to attend school. There are currently five kinds of schooling which are the state secular, ultra orthodox, communal settlement schools, state religious and Arab schools. They are attended by both non-Arab and Jewish students.

5. Culture

A wide range of the Jewish customs and beliefs are in Israel. Jews have returned to Israel from around the world and brought their different cultural and religious traditions with them. This is the only country which revolves round the calendar of Hebrew. There is no place like the Holy land of God.

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As part of the Holy Land, Israel is home to three of the world’s major monotheistic religions, namely, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In fact, many of the holy sites in Israel have special significance to all three religions of which the most important is Jerusalem. As such, the peoples of Israel come from a diverse mix of cultures that share more commonalities than differences despite the image the nation may have to the outside world.

With a long history marked by war and peace, unity and division, as well as being the conquered and conqueror, the people of Israel as we know the nation today strive to live with their neighbors as peacefully as can be allowed under the circumstances. Today, Israel is a parliamentary republic with a progressive economy, a tolerant society and a strong democracy.

Composition of People

Israeli society can be divided into the Jews and the non-Jews. As previously stated, the Jews make up majority of the Israeli population with many living in the areas captured during the Six-Day War, namely, Golan, West Bank and East Jerusalem. The non-Jews are composed mostly of Israeli-Arabs while the rest belong to the minority tribes mentioned above.

As the world’s only Jewish state, it is to be expected that the majority practice Judaism at roughly 80%. The Muslims make up 16%, the Christian Arabs 4% and the Druze 2%. This classification is important toward the better understanding of the customs, traditions and practices of the Israelis.

Even in a Jewish state, deep ethnic divisions still exist although many have healed through intermingling and intermarriage. For example, the Ashkenazim are divided from the Sephardim and Mizrahim during the early years of the state with recent years seeing less acute differences.

And then there are the secular and orthodox Jews divided over religious issues. Most of the secular Jews live in the urban areas like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv while the small towns are home to most orthodox Jews. In the middle of the spectrum are the secular Jews who still adhere to a few traditions in Judaism.

Talking to the People

As befits its people composition, Israel has two official languages, namely, Hebrew and Arabic with Hebrew being the most commonly spoken. English is a de facto second language for virtually all Israelis for many reasons of which the most notable is the country’s status as a former British colony and a present-day United States ally in western Asia. In fact, street signs, commercial establishments and other public venues are marked in these three languages.

But these three languages are just a small part of the Babel that Israel boasts of. Immigrants from countries like the former Soviet Union, Romania, France, Germany, Poland, and China, among others, have contributed to the dozens of languages heard in public places especially in large cities like Tel Aviv.

More than the language, however, it is important to show respect for the Jewish culture despite the secularism in the urban areas. Be modest in dress and behavior when entering the places of worship for the three major faiths in the country. Refrain from making any disparaging remarks against any of the tribes and sects.

If you can remember to behave properly, you will find that Israel and the Israelis are very warm, friendly and hospitable people.

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