Escapism is one of the most important things to relax from stressful situations that cause anxieties and worries.
Due to the prevailing security situation in Israel in recent days following Operation "Dawn", residents of the Gaza Strip and the bombed southern cities are invited to take a pleasant break and visit attractions suitable for the whole family for free or at a discount.
We have collected some of these places from south to north, hoping that we will spend these summer days in the best possible way and with best wishes for quieter and calmer days.
Eilat
The municipality of the southernmost city in Israel offers free entry to the Eilat Municipal Museum and the Eilat Art Gallery, a 50% discount on entrance to the underwater observatory, kayak and SUP rentals at the surf center, the Razor Gal tours in the desert and the attractions at the Ice Mall mall.
Discounts and benefits will also be given in restaurants.
Full details on all discounts and benefits in the city can be found on the Facebook page "Eilatim likes to host".
The southern prairie
Southern Arava Tourism offers a variety of free activities and special benefits for residents of the Gaza Strip, including an ecological tour and free entry to the eco-fun complex in Kibbutz Lotan;
Free entry to Timna Park and accommodation until Wednesday at a 50% discount;
Free tour and guidance in the bird park in the city;
Free entry and a tour of the Yatva Park and a 10% discount at the Yatva Inn.
Also, free entry is offered to the wildlife site (subject to prior registration on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority and on a space-available basis).
The benefits will be given upon presentation of an ID card and pre-order, until August 10.
More details by phone 08-6616976 or on the website https://aravadesert.co.il/events/38/
Chai Bar Yatbata, photo: Yahav Zimring
Jerusalem
The cultural institutions in the capital will be opened to residents of the Gaza Strip free of charge until this Friday.
Among the sites that will be opened: the Botanical Garden, Ein Yael Park, the Biblical Zoo, the Science Museum, the Museum of Islam, the Israel Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the Museum of the Biblical Lands. The children's shows at the Culture Hall in Pisgat Ze'ev will also be held free of charge for the residents of the surrounding area.
In addition, residents of the Otaf will be allowed free entry to all the pools operated by the community administrations (Talfaz, Kiryat Yuval, Hamat Shmuel, Ramot, Gila, Neve Ya'akov and Pisgat Ze'ev). Entry is free for residents of the Otaf Gaza (within a range of up to 40 km from the envelope) will be possible by presenting an ID card attachment.
More details can be found on the Jerusalem Municipality website and on the websites of the various cultural institutions and websites.
Lions in the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem (archive), photo: Yoav Ari Dudkevich
Additional attractions that provide benefits to the residents of the Gaza Strip: The Time Lift attraction will grant free entry to residents of the south and Gaza Strip, until Thursday (by pre-ordering by calling 02-6248381 and presenting an ID at the box office).
The Tower of David Museum will open its doors free of charge to the residents of the Gaza Strip, Ashkelon, Ashkelon Beach, Ashdod and the other communities that have been under fire since Saturday night.
The benefit will be given until Saturday.
Entry is at 4:00-9:00 p.m. and includes the game set "Mystery in the Citadel" and a free audio guide (and does not include the activity of the Knight's Fort and the night vision).
Starting Monday, the Friends of Israel Museum in Jerusalem grants free entry to children of the Otaf and a 50% discount for adults upon presentation of an ID card.
Tickets must be ordered in advance by calling 02-5329401.
Gush Etzion
The Gush Etzion Regional Council in cooperation with the Gush Etzion Tourism Department offer accommodation in B&Bs, tourist sites and local businesses.
Among the benefits: free viewing of an audio-visual show, a visit to the Haa Bayar, various tours and free accommodation at Khan Kshoala.
At the Gush Etzion winery there will be free tours and tastings for residents of the south, and a 15% discount on a meal at the winery's restaurant.
Residents of the south are also offered a 50% discount on all the activities of the Crossroads Institute, a 15% discount in the animal corner "Slomo's Animals" and a host of discounts in various restaurants.
Also, a hotline was opened that connects hosts with residents of the south, and its number is: 02-9933863.
"We are all with you in the fight, a united front against terrorism," said the head of the Gush Etzion Council Shlomo Na'im.
Tel Aviv
A world and tourism city of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality, which offers tours to visitors to the city, invites the residents of the south to a variety of tours at no cost, including tours in Sharona Park, an art tour in the south of the city and a tour of the Independence Trail that links the sites and places intertwined in the construction of the Zionist enterprise and the establishment of the State of Israel.
Visitors from the south will also be able to enjoy a variety of attractions, hotels and heritage sites at extremely low prices.
ID must be presented to receive the benefit.
Details on the website Visit-tlv.co.il.
More in Tel Aviv: The dragon park "Dragonland" located in Yehoshua Gardens gives Otaf families free entry to the park today on Sundays and Mondays, upon presentation of an ID card of residence in the Otaf communities.
The benefit will be given at the park ticket offices only.
Haifa
Residents of the south and the surrounding area are invited to hang out free of charge at the Gali Haifa sports center (the municipal pool) in the city, which includes pools, spacious lawns and play facilities.
The Medatek, the National Museum of Science, Technology and Space at the Haifa Technion also invites groups organized by the regional councils to visit the museum during the coming week free of charge, subject to presentation of ID.
The visit includes entry to the Klimt summer exhibition and all museum exhibitions and participation in activities, workshops and demonstrations of the new exhibition.
To coordinate arrival, you can send an email to shir.ron@madatech.org.il.
Exhibition at Medatech (archive), photo: Javier Naval
Jezreel Valley
In the Jezreel Valley, the residents of the south are offered access to a variety of sites free of charge: a detective activity at the Ein Dor Museum that takes place with the help of an application to discover the museum's treasures;
The Emek Museum in Pifat allows you to go back in time to the days of the pioneers, the early days of the kibbutz and the cooperative moshav;
as well as Horn Farm for bird riding, a therapeutic farm surrounded by greenery that will allow
Benefits for additional activities are updated on the website: https://www.emekyizrael.org.il/news/51/
the valley of Springs
Even in Emek Ma'aina, they offer discounted or free entry to a variety of sites: at the Guru Garden, entry will be possible until Wednesday at a price of NIS 10 for residents of the Gaza Strip within a 40-kilometer range, entry will be permitted upon presentation of an ID card appendix with the residential address.
In the springs park, a 50% discount will be given on renting golf carts for a trip to the park, and the Gilboa springs tour center named after Zvika Kaplan will offer guided tours, and/or accommodation at the "Kan Bonim Zionot" visitor center, free of charge to groups from the surrounding and southern settlements.
Must be arranged in advance by calling 052-7466514.
National Park Gan HaSlosha - Hashana (archive), photo: Mano Greenspan
The Wind Farm, Ma'ale Gilboa invites residents of the Gaza Strip for a tour at a price of NIS 10 per person, by pre-registration at the link: tic.li/c/13609/LNGogeEGWa.
The "Naharim Be Gesher" site also offers a guided tour of the site at a price of NIS 10 per participant upon presentation of an ID card and by prior arrangement by calling 04-6752685.
Also in the spring valley: as part of the benefit of the Nature and Parks Authority, free entry will be given to the Three Garden (Hasanah) and the Star of the Jordan National Park.
The benefit is for residents of the Gaza Strip within a range of 40 km from the Strip, until Wednesday inclusive. Entry upon presentation of an ID, subject to registration on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority and on a space-available basis http://bit.ly/2zcixEq
Sea of Galilee
The entrance to the 12 beaches of the Sea of Galilee Association of Cities is indeed free, and families from the south will also be able to skip paying.
Entitlement to a benefit upon presentation of an ID upon exiting the parking lot.
Details about the benefit and the beaches on the Kinneret Cities Association website - www.kineret.org.il
Tourists on one of the Kinneret beaches, photo: Tali Bar - Association of Kinneret Cities
Rosh Pina
The Rosh Pina Council invites the residents of the enclave and the soldiers of the IDF to ventilate and release the pressure during an evening of concerts, breweries, a cocktail bar, food stalls and artists, which includes a central performance by Jimbo J. The celebration will take place this Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. until 24:00 at the Rosh Pina soccer field. Stock is limited to 200 tickets, and to receive the benefit, contact the Galil Golan hotline at *3986.
Jimbo J in concert (archive), photo: Avihai Levy
The Hermon site
The management of the Hermon site will host from tomorrow until Wednesday the residents of the Gaza Strip, free of charge, for summer recreation at the site.
The entertainment includes a cable car ride and free attractions.
You must show an ID card with a residence annex.
Hermon cable car, photo: Hermon site
Additional attractions throughout the country
The Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel invites the residents of the south to visit approximately 100 heritage sites throughout the country for free until the end of Operation "Dawn".
The activity, which is carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, is intended for the residents of the Gaza Strip, Ashkelon, Ashkelon Beach, Ashdod and the other communities under fire.
The complete list of sites and the details for contacting them appear on the council's website: https://shimur.org/events/23740/.
The activity is subject to pre-registration and presentation of an ID upon arrival at the site.
The Nature and Parks Authority is opening the national parks, nature reserves and overnight parking for free to residents of the Gaza Strip (within a 40 km radius) until Wednesday (inclusive). Raya Shurki, Director General of the Nature and Parks Authority, said that "Going out into nature is a 'prescription' check and has mental, health and physical benefits, so nature reserves and national parks can be a place to relax for families from the southern settlements who are going through complex and tense days, and the Authority's employees are ready to accommodate the residents."
You must register in advance on the Nature and Parks Authority website: https://www.parks.org.il
The Performance Rock climbing wall group offers free entry to the group's branches in Be'er Sheva, Modi'in, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Bergaba.
This week the Shafim water park is giving children and families of the surrounding area and the south a discount on direct purchases at the park's box office, subject to presentation of an ID card.
The ticket price for residents of the area will be NIS 75 instead of NIS 139.
For more details and to find out the days when the park is open to the public: https://waterpark.co.il/
Climbing walls at Performance Rock, photo: PR
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