Israel Active

Unusual for the UK’s Daily Mirror - a very positive article recommending Israel. Its mixture of ancient and modern; Tel Aviv’s trendy bars; 300 sunshine days; fine hotels; plus, “a brilliant country that embraces its past and also looks ahead to the future with a bright smile.”

A rare balanced BBC interview with popular singer Ester Rada - born in Israel of Ethiopian parents who (along with 8000 others) were airlifted to Israel from Sudan in 1984. During her IDF service, Ester sang in a military band, and toured the world. Her 2013 EP is “Life Happens”.

The best-selling boy-band in history, the Backstreet Boys, with sales of over 130 million records worldwide, are expected to give a concert at the Raanana amphitheatre, in July.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Viewers of the popular TV show Greys Anatomy saw actress Sandra Oh (who plays Dr Cristina Yang) encounter Israel’s RealView Imaging. In real life, RealView’s three-dimensional holography helps surgeons plan the steps of delicate, complex procedures.

The US Turner Broadcasting System cable network has purchased the rights to make a version of the Israeli situation comedy “Savri Maranan”. The pilot episode of the renamed "Your Family or Mine" will air at the start of 2015. The ABC network also bought the show in 2012 to make “Tribes”.

21 Israeli beaches and two marinas have just received the Blue Flag international accolade for environmental excellence. In 2013 only nine Israeli beaches and two marinas reached the sufficient standard. This year, the Blue Flag was awarded to eight beaches in Netanya alone.

Yom Haatzmaut starts on Monday night. Kol Cambridge’s DJ Antithesis on Tel Aviv’s Radio TLV1 gets us in the mood with a good dose of Zionist music. You would be amazed how many variations there can be on Hatikva!

(Thanks to Israel21c) Leading travel website TripAdvisor has released a new list citing the Top 10 Destinations on the Rise around the world, and ranks Jerusalem as the fourth most popular site to visit. There are over 5,200 Jerusalem related posts on the global travel advice website.

The Sunbeat Music Festival (June 6-7) is Israel’s leading summer world music, global beats event. Set in the beautiful Pecan Park in the mountains of the Northern Galilee, Sunbeat draws some of Israel’s biggest homegrown musicians, as well as a diverse array of international musicians

Following the successes of Nabucco, Aida, Carmen and Turandot, the Israeli Opera will temporarily relocate Paris to the Judean desert. They will perform a new ravishing production of Verdi's most popular opera at the footsteps of the majestic Mount Masada from June 12 – 17.