Who used to be the capital of Israel. The historical significance of the relocation of the us embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem
Unlike the Kingdom of Judah, which, after the capture of Jerusalem by King David at the end of the 11th century. BC e., always ruled from one capital, the Kingdom of Israel had several capitals throughout its history: Shechem (Tel Balata), Tirzah (Tel el-Farah), and, finally, Samaria. This latter was founded in 876 BC. e. King Omri (884-873 BC), whose son, Ahab, married the famous Phoenician princess Izebel, terribly hated by the prophets of Israel for her vile influence on the Israeli king. However, nasty influences are one thing, but politics and economics are something else entirely. During the reigns of Kings Omri, Ahab, and then Jerovam II, the Kingdom of Israel as a whole, and its capital Samaria in particular, reached its peak. Fiery fighters for the rights of the oppressed and dispossessed (i.e., the prophets of Israel and Judah) pushed angry accusatory speeches against the Samaritan brothers, who meanwhile reclined on ivory beds, listened to beautiful music, and drank quality drinks. As for the kingdom of the shepherds to the south of the Kingdom of Israel, before the fall of Samaria there were few rich people there, and there was almost nothing to divide.
View from the top of the mountain where the capital of Israel once stood:
View in the other direction, the remains of a wall and towers from the Hellenistic period are visible on the right: 
Steps leading to the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod the Great (37-4 BC) 
Ruins of the Temple of Augustus. Somewhere down here was the palace of the Kings of Israel: 
In the early books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), "Samaria" is the name of a city, not a region. After in 722/1. BC e. The Kingdom of Israel and its capital Samaria were captured by the Assyrians, the new masters reorganized the territory they had annexed as a new province, and gave it the name "Samerina". The province of Samerina extended from the Jezreel Valley in the north to the Ayalon Valley in the south, and from the Mediterranean coast in the west to the Jordan River in the east. This is where the name of the central part of the Land of Israel came from. Before that, the Assyrians called the Kingdom of Israel "Beit Hamri", after the founder of Samaria, King Omri.
Land of Israel during the reign of Sargon II: 
Even more interesting is the fate of the name “Israel” - initially, most likely, it referred only to the northern tribes, and then to the northern kingdom. After his fall, the rulers of the Kingdom of Judah launched a large-scale integration campaign northern population into the composition of their kingdom, while simultaneously borrowing and reinterpreting northern traditions (it is known that after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, a huge number of Israelis sought refuge in the south, in the territory of the Kingdom of Judah). As a result, history was written anew, the eponymous patriarch Jacob-Israel appeared, then the ancient nation "Israel", then the united Kingdom of Israel, which split in two, and now "Israel" again has the opportunity to reunite under the banner of a common true faith. In other words, in the process of struggle for integration of the inhabitants of the destroyed Kingdom of Israel, the myth of common ancient origins was born, as well as the mythical transcendental category “Israel”. Interestingly, no Jewish state in ancient times (except for the 100% heterodox Kingdom of Israel) was called "Israel". "Israel", in later periods, was the name given to the entire Jewish people - in the metaphysical and transcendental sense. However, please note that this is the name chosen for the modern Jewish state.
Area map: 
The ruins of ancient Samaria (n.ts. 168.187) are located at a distance of approx. 13 km northwest of Nablus, in the Palestinian village of Sebastia (see below for the origin of this name), near the settlement of Shavei Shomron. To get there, you need to take road 60 until the turn to Shavei Shomron, continue further to the Tzomet Shomron intersection (near the village of Dir Sharaf), and turn left (this is still road 60). After driving a kilometer, you will see a small hill on the right - this is Tel Shomron. A paved road leads to the top.
This is how it looks from the side of the village of Shavei Shomron: 
However, it is worth noting that the road is currently being repaired, and it is difficult to get to the ruins. To avoid disappointment, it is worth agreeing on the planned visit with the army; the officer with whom we spoke told us that every week or two the place is visited by Israelis as part of organized excursions (mostly on Thursdays). They didn’t want to let us in there, so we contrived and went around. This did not go through, since, of course, they noticed us and were waiting for us. In the end, I agreed with the officer that they would allow us to visit the ruins, and in return I would tell them the history of this wonderful place. And so it was. While the division commander issued a ban on our visiting the ruins, we managed to see most of what interested us. The most interesting thing is that, talking with the soldiers, as always, they found a bunch of mutual acquaintances (and I don’t mean Herod and the Hasmoneans).
There was a jeep in front and a Hummer behind. This time our children stayed at home, they were tired of the ruins. 
Unfortunately, excavations in the city of Samaria were carried out a long time ago, and therefore, of course, not in the best way. Why, unlike other important places in Judea and Samaria, there was practically no digging there after the end of the 60s, I don’t really understand, but there are probably reasons for this. Excavations in Samaria were carried out in 1908-10. (Schumacher, Reisner and Fischer), in 1931-35. (Crowfoot, Sukenik and Kenyon), in 1965-67. (Zayadin), and 1968 (Hennesey). During the excavations, the ruins of the city's acropolis, city walls, warehouses, a palace, and houses dating back to the First Temple period (as well as 63 ostracons) were discovered. In addition, city towers dating from the Hellenistic period were excavated (considered the most impressive ruins of that period preserved in Israel), as well as the remains of various buildings built by Herod the Great - the Temple of Augustus, a theater, a forum and a stadium. A temple to the Roman goddess Cora and a columned street dating from the Roman period were also found. Churches were built here during the Byzantine period. Despite the fact that at the moment there are no signs at the site, and it is quite difficult for a non-specialist to understand the ruins, it must be said that the scale of the excavation is very impressive. I would like to hope that archaeologists will return here; I also hope that the ruins of Samaria will one day be put in order and again become an Israeli National Park, as it was in the not so distant past.
Excavation plan: 
And here is a plan of buildings dating from the First Temple period: 
The Tanakh tells the following about the historical context of the founding of Samaria (hereinafter the synodal translation with my corrections):
...The rest of Zimri's deeds and the conspiracy he formed are described in the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Then the people of Israel were divided in two: half of the people stood for Tivni, the son of Ginatov, to make him king, and half for Omri. And the people who were for Omri prevailed over the people who were for Tivni, the son of Ginatov, and Tivni died, and Omri reigned. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri reigned over Israel and reigned for twelve years. He reigned in Tirez for six years. And Omri bought Mount Shomron from Shemer for two talents of silver, and built up the mountain, and named the city he built Samaria (Shomron), after the name of Shemer, the owner of the mountain. And Omri did what was disgraceful in the sight of Yahweh and did worse than all those who were before him. He walked in everything the way of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and in his sins, with which he caused the Israelites to sin, in order to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, with his idols. The rest of the things Omri did and the courage he showed are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son reigned in his stead. Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.
And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was displeasing in the sight of Yahweh more than all that were before him. It was not enough for him to fall into the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat; he took Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal the king of Sidon, as his wife, and began to serve and worship Baal. And he built an altar to Baal in the temple of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an oak grove, and more than all the kings of Israel that were before him, Ahab did that which provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel... (Mlahim Aleph 16:20-33)
And Yahweh, the God of Israel, in his Samaritan version, was a bastard. Firstly, he had a woman (a wife, not a wife, it’s not entirely clear). Secondly, he put his treasure on public display. Here is a drawing discovered in the north of Sinai, in a place called Kuntillet Ajrud, it depicts two naked men (scientists believe that these men are the twice depicted Egyptian god A demon - apparently, this is how the author of the drawing imagined Yahweh), and a woman playing some kind of musical instrument. The inscription in Hebrew reads: "Said E[...]??? "Say to Yehal[el] and Joash and [... ... ... I b]ssed you to Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah." 
Larger: 
Omri's son, Ahab (873-852 BC), as mentioned above, was very unpopular among fighters for the true faith and social justice, and many chapters of the Hebrew Bible are devoted to the dispute between him and the famous prophet Eliyahu. As for the archaeological evidence associated with the period of his reign, he was perhaps one of the most advanced and active personalities of that period. In other words, the Kingdom of Israel flourished and developed rapidly under him. The buildings discovered in Samaria and dating from his period indicate extraordinary sophistication and quality of construction, which, in all likelihood, can be attributed to the Phoenician stonemasons, builders, and artisans who arrived here as part of the good neighborly relationship between Ahab and the Phoenician king Ethbaal. But not only archaeological finds indicate that Ahab was tough - the so-called "Kurkh Monolith" of Shalmaneser III tells that Ahab took part in the anti-Assyrian coalition, and sent 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 chariots for the famous Battle of Karkar (853 BC .). Let me explain: this is a lot.
In addition to developing the economy and political connections, Ahab pursued a rather aggressive policy towards his neighbors, and, in the end, died in the battle for Ramot Gilad (northern Transjordan):
... And the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.
And they washed [his war] chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked his blood, and washed the harlots, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke. The rest of Ahab's deeds, all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel... (Mlahim Aleph 22:37-39)
Archaeologists believe that they have discovered the ruins of this very pond. I didn’t see him, or I saw him but didn’t recognize him.
His son, Jehoram (851-842 BC), also died in the war - but this time not at the hands of a foreign enemy, but because of the conspiracy of his own commander Yehu. This Yahoo was secretly anointed for the kingdom (murder) by the disciple of the prophet Eliyahu (after he flew to heaven on a chariot of fire), the prophet Elisha. In general, Elisha was a comrade who was not worth messing with - once, in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, he set bears on the children, who called him “bald.” The bears, obeying the command of the “man of God,” tore the children to pieces:
...And he went [from Jericho] to Beit El. As he walked along the road, small children came out of the city and mocked him and said to him: Go, bald! go bald! He looked back and saw them and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. And two she-bears came out of the forest and tore to pieces forty-two children from them... (Mlahim Bet 2:23-
24)
This is one of the instructive stories in the Bible, for “men of God” should be treated with respect. It is worth noting that it is because of this story that the Hebrew proverb "?? ????? ??? ???" appeared. - like, what kind of bears are there in the Jericho region, and where does the forest come from? Although, of course, defenders of the historicity of Holy Scripture will say that the forest was there, but a long time ago. And now - no, but this does not prove or disprove anything.
So, the pious at first Yehu (842-814 BC) methodically exterminated the entire family of Ahab, and also carried out religious reform. After, in accordance with the commandment of the Lord, he had already killed several dozen children, Yehu decided to cleanse the Land of Israel from idolatry. It was like this:
...Arriving in Samaria, he killed everyone who remained with Ahab in Samaria, so that he completely destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke to Eliyahu. And Yehu gathered all the people and said to them: Ahab served Baal little; Yahoo will serve him more. So call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his ministers and all his priests, so that no one will be absent, for I will have a great sacrifice for Baal. And anyone who does not appear will not remain alive. Yahoo did this with cunning intent to destroy the servants of Baal. And Joshua said, Call a festival meeting for Baal's sake. And the meeting was announced. And Yahoo sent throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a single person left who would not come; and they entered into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from end to end. And he said to the keeper of the clothes: Bring clothes for all the servants of Baal. And he brought them clothes. And Yehu entered with Jonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal, and said to the servants of Baal: Scout and see if any of the servants of Yahweh are with you, since only the servants of Baal should be here. And they began to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. And Yehu placed eighty men outside the house and said: The soul of the one from whom any of the people whom I give into your hands will be saved will take the place of the soul of the one who was saved. When the burnt offering was over, Yehu said to the walkers and the leaders: go, beat them, so that not one of them escapes. And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and the marchers and the captains abandoned them, and went to the city where the temple of Baal was. And they took the statues out of the temple of Baal and burned them. And they broke the statue of Baal, and destroyed the temple of Baal; and they made it a latrine until this day. And Yahoo destroyed Baal from the land of Israel. However, from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin, Yehu did not retreat from them - from the golden calves that are in Beth-El and those in Dan. And Yahweh said to Yehu, Because you willingly did what was righteous in My sight, and accomplished for the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons until the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel... (Mlahim Bet 10 : 17-30)
In addition to his atrocities, Yahoo is also famous for the fact that he is depicted kneeling (but wearing a cockerel hat) before the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) on the famous “Black Obelisk”, now in the British Museum : 
Samaria reached its peak during the reign of Yehu's grandson, King Yeroham II (789-748 BC), who ruled a huge empire stretching from Lavo Hamat (70 km north of Damascus) to the Dead Sea. It was during his reign that the tragic prophet Hoshea (whom Yahweh ordered to marry a food whore) and an angry prophet (shepherd?) named Amos, who was from the Jewish village of Tkoa (before high-tech appeared, eat there) appeared in Israel there was nothing). Amos repeatedly tried to burn the hearts of the arrogant Samaritan rich with a verb, accusing them of various crimes against morality and social justice.
Archaeologists have discovered many luxury items made of ivory in Samaria, which apparently belonged to similar brothers: 
The rich, I believe, blamed Amos and his verbs with the device, although, admittedly, he spoke beautifully (and his speeches were edited competently, I assure you as a true connoisseur of prophetic literature):
...You, who consider the day of disaster to be far off and bring the triumph of violence closer—you, who lie on couches of ivory and bask on your beds, eat the best rams from the herd and bulls from the fat pasture, sing to the sound of the harp, thinking that you wield a musical instrument like David, drink wine from cups, anoint yourself with the best ointments, and do not grieve over Joseph’s misfortune! Therefore now they will go into captivity at the head of the captives, and the rejoicing of the pampered will end... (Amos 6: 3-7)
...Thus says Yahweh: For three of Israel's crimes and for four I will not spare him, because they sell the upright for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the meek out of the way; even father and son go to the same girl to dishonor My holy name. They recline on the clothes taken as pledge at every altar, and they drink the wine exacted from the accused in the house of their gods... Behold... the swift will not have the strength to flee, and the strong will not hold his strength, and the brave will not save his life, neither one who shoots an arrow can stand, nor a walker can run away, nor one sitting on a horse can save his life. And the bravest of the brave will flee naked on that day, says Yahweh... (Amos 2:6-15)
After the death of Jeroboam II, Samaria gradually began to decline. The Assyrians, who gradually began to take over parts of the Kingdom of Israel, turned it into their vassal. After the death of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III (744-727 BC), the last Israelite king Hoshea ben Ela (732-724 BC) rebelled against Assyrian rule, as a result of which the Assyrians decided to finally end with the existence of the Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was besieged by Shalmaneser V, and captured either by Shalmaneser himself in 722 BC. e. (according to the Hebrew Bible), or Sargon II in 721 BC. e. (according to Assyrian sources).
Sargon II (right): 
According to the annals of Sargon II, 27,290 people were deported to Mesopotamia, and in their place settlers were brought from Mesopotamia.
Like how it was: 
Sargon also boasted that he had rebuilt Samaria better than it was before. The Israelis who remained in place mixed with the newly arrived residents, and (as the biblical authors say), as a result, a new ethnic-religious entity emerged - the Samaritans. The following passage from the Tanakh tells how all this happened:
...In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah reigned in Samaria over Israel and reigned for nine years. And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like the kings of Israel who were before him. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, came out against him, and Hoshea became subject to him and gave him tribute. And the king of Assyria noticed the treason in Hoshei, since he sent ambassadors to So the king of Egypt, and did not deliver tribute to the king of Assyria every year; and the king of Assyria took him into custody, and shut him up in a prison house. And the king of Assyria went into all the land, and came to Samaria, and kept it under siege for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshei the king of Assyria took Samaria, and deported the Israelites to Assyria, and settled them in Hlah and in Habor, by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes... (Mlahim Bet 17: 1-6)
The biblical editor further explains that all this happened because of the sins with which the children of Israel did not cease to anger Yahweh. And at the end of the chapter he tells where the Samaritans came from:
...And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, and from Kuta, and from Abba, and from Hamatha, and from Sphervaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and began to live in its cities. And just as at the beginning of their residence there they did not honor Yahweh, Yahweh sent lions to kill them. And they told the king of Assyria, and said: The nations whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of that land, and therefore he sends lions against them, and so they kill them, because they do not know the law of the god of that land. . And the king of Assyria commanded and said: Send there one of the priests whom you drove out from there; let him go and live there, and he will teach them the law of the god of that land. And one of the priests who had been driven out of Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how to honor Yahweh. Moreover, each nation made its own gods and placed them in the temples of the high places that the Samaritans had built - each nation in their own cities where they live. The Babylonians made Sukkot-Bnot, the Gutians made Nergal, the Hamatians made Ashima, the Avvians made Nivhaz and Tartak, and the Sfarvaimites burned their sons in fire to Adramelech and Anamelech, the gods of Sfarvaim. Meanwhile, they also honored Yahweh, and made them priests of the high places from among themselves, and they served among them in the temples of the high places. They revered Yahweh, and they served their gods according to the custom of the peoples from which they had evicted them. To this day they act according to their former customs: they do not fear Yahweh and do not act according to the statutes and rites, and according to the law and commandments that Yahweh commanded the sons of Jacob, to whom he gave the name Israel... ...These nations honored Yahweh , but they also served their idols. And their children and their children's children do even to this day just as their fathers did. (Mlahim Bet 17: 30-34; 41)
From this passage comes the famous Hebrew phrase "??? ?????" (“lion proselytes”), that is, people who adopted Judaism out of fear, insincerely.
After the Assyrian conquest, the city of Samaria continued to be the main administrative center of the province (and later satrapy) throughout the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian periods. We learn about how things were in Samaria in the early Persian period (the last third of the 6th – 5th centuries) mainly from the books of Ezra-Nehemiah, which tell about the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity and the restoration of the Jewish settlement in the territory of Judah and Jerusalem. According to the biblical narrative, the ruler of Samaria named Sanballat (along with Tobiah the Ammonite [actually a Jew living in Transjordan] and Geshem the Arabian) was one of the main opponents of building a wall around Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah, who arrived in Jerusalem in 445 BC e. Some scholars even believed that the conflict between the rulers of Samaria and the returning Jews from Babylon, described in the books of Ezra-Nehemiah, occurred because Judea was initially subordinate to Samaria from an administrative point of view.
But then a new era began. After Alexander the Great conquered Syria, he appointed a certain Andromache as its ruler (332 BC). The historian Quintus Curtius Rufus says that while Alexander was in Egypt, the Samaritans burned him alive. Alexander dealt with the inhabitants of Samaria, some of whom were killed and some fled, and on the site of the captured city, Alexander founded the Macedonian colony. Samaria contains the most impressive ruins in all of Israel, dating from the Hellenistic period (namely, watchtowers): 
In 108-7. BC e. Jewish ethnarch and high priest Yohanan Hyrcanus besieged, captured and destroyed Samaria. The siege lasted a whole year, after which the cities were razed to the ground and its inhabitants enslaved. In 63 BC. e., after the capture of the Land of Israel by the Romans, Gnaeus Pompey took Samaria from the Jews and returned its independence. In 57-55 BC e. it was rebuilt by Gabinius along with other Hellenistic cities captured and destroyed by the Hasmoneans. Samaria reached the peak of its prosperity during the period of the Second Temple during the reign of Herod the Great (40 - 4 BC), who fell in love with it at the very beginning of his reign. During the siege of Jerusalem in 37 BC. e., he demonstratively went to Samaria in order to celebrate his wedding there with Miriam, the granddaughter of the (former) high priest Hyrcanus II. After a showdown between Mark Antony and Octavian, Herod received Samaria as a gift from the latter, and decided to rebuild it.
The main written evidence regarding Herod's activities in Samaria is Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews. Don't pay attention to how he assesses Herod's motives and actions - Joseph simply drives:
“Now (Herod) decided to build a third fortress to protect himself from the people, namely in Samaria, which he called Sebastia. So, he decided to fortify this place, which was located at a distance of one day’s journey from Jerusalem and represented the convenience that it could serve an excellent means for curbing not only the city, but the entire country. To protect himself from a nationwide uprising, Herod began to rebuild the city, which bore the name of Strato's Tower and was now called Caesarea by Herod. On a wide plain, he erected a fortification and placed in it a detachment of horsemen chosen for it. that by lot; in Galilee he built Geva, in Perea (Transjordan) Herod erected all these fortresses in different places, constantly taking care to strengthen and secure his position, and trying to keep the whole people in his hands so that they would be less powerful. I thought about indignation (however, some slight fermentation was always noticed) and that not the slightest movement would go unnoticed, since there were always forces present that were able to immediately recognize everything and suppress any such attempt. When he went to fortify Samaria, he invited many of his former soldiers to settle there, as well as many of the border residents, and tempted them with the prospect of building a new temple. At the same time, he also wanted to raise the importance of this city, which had not previously been one of the most brilliant. The main reason for these foreigners was that Herod, for the sake of his personal safety, did not skimp on money. At the same time, Herod renamed the city Sebastia and distributed among the inhabitants the nearest, best land in the entire country, so that upon their settlement they would immediately enjoy a certain prosperity. He surrounded the city with a strong wall and took advantage of the sloping terrain, and gave the city such a size that it was not inferior in this regard to even the most famous cities. He embraced twenty furlongs. Inside the city, he left a beautiful open square of one and a half stages and erected a temple here, which was among the most outstanding in size and beauty. Certain parts of the city were also constantly decorated with it, and this was caused by considerations of personal safety, the desire to take advantage of the strong walls to turn the entire city into a huge fortress, as well as the desire to leave behind a worthy monument to one’s taste and philanthropy" (Antiquities 15: 292-8).
"Sebastos" is the Greek equivalent of "Augustus," and Herod named the city he rebuilt, which he received as a gift from Augustus, "Sebaste" in honor of his patron. This name was preserved in the name of the Arab village, still located on the ruins of the ancient city.
Monumental steps to the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod the Great: 
Sebaste was burned by Jewish rebels during the Great Revolt (namely in 66 AD), but was subsequently rebuilt, and reached a new zenith during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 AD). ). Septimius Severus restored the Temple of Augustus, built by Herod, and the stadium. Also dating from this period are the columned street (about 600 of which survive), the theatre, the forum, the basilica and the aqueduct.
Colonnade (now fat Arabs and their nasty women walk here - all in slippers, with dirty feet, and once upon a time the handsome Herod celebrated his wedding here). Yes, by the way, I can say that, judging by their thighs and bellies, there is plenty to eat in occupied Palestine: 
Once upon a time, here the Kings of Israel, Macedonian fighters and Herod's friends moved progress, but now - goats graze sheep: 
During the Byzantine period, traditions arose that Sebastia contained the tombs of the prophets Eliyahu and Obadiah, as well as two caves in which Obadiah (Eliyahu's companion) hid a hundred prophets of Yahweh from the wrath of Ahab and Izebel (Mlahim Aleph 18:4).
Here is one of the well-preserved churches ( Arabic inscription above the entrance it says: “there is no god except Allah”, a magendovid is drawn inside the church, so we are not much smarter): 
Interestingly, somehow a tradition emerged identifying Sebaste as the burial place of John the Baptist, who, according to Josephus, was executed in the fortress of Macheront (Mikhvar), located in Transjordan, east of the Dead Sea. The city begins to decline in the 6th century. n. e., possibly due to the earthquake of 551 AD. e. Medieval travelers mention Sebaste as a village. 
If you ask an ordinary netizen which city is the capital of Israel, this question will confuse many. Someone will say “Jerusalem”, and someone will say Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv
Turning to official sources is even more confusing. Russian news may include one or another city, depending on the editorial policy, but in state media they always name Tel Aviv. What's the right way?
There is currently no foreign embassy in Jerusalem. Most of them are concentrated in Tel Aviv or the surrounding area, with the rare exception of Paraguay and Bolivia, which have their diplomatic missions in Mevaseret Zion, a nearby suburb of Jerusalem.
The embassies of the Russian Federation, France, Great Britain and the USA are located a stone's throw from the Tel Aviv beach. There is only a US consulate general in Jerusalem, but not a Russian one. So, Tel Aviv?
Jerusalem
Not at all. Israel calls the city of Jerusalem its capital. Israeli Parliament Knesset, Supreme Court, all ministries and the presidential residence are located in Jerusalem. Here, on Sundays, the working week opens with a government meeting. Foreign diplomats often travel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for receptions. After all, this is where the Prime Minister of Israel works.
On July 30, 1980, the Knesset passed the Law of Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel, which states: “Jerusalem, one and indivisible, is the capital of Israel.” This law received the status of a fundamental law, equivalent to a constitutional law, that is, it is more difficult to repeal it than an ordinary law.
Where does this duality come from?
Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East and the world. The first settlement here arose in the 4th millennium BC.
This city became Jewish in the 11th century BC. Both Temples were located here, without which the full realization of Judaism is impossible, because a considerable part of the 613 commandments obligatory for Jews to follow are associated with this place. That's why this city is called sacred.
In 70 AD. The Second Temple was destroyed, and in 135 AD, with the suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt by the Romans, most of the Jewish people found themselves outside their homeland.
Jews began to return en masse “to Zion” in the 19th century. Jerusalem then belonged to the Turks, and then was controlled by the British Mandate of Palestine. The 1947 UN plan called for the territory of Palestine to be divided between Jews and Arabs, with Jerusalem and its environs, including Beit Lehem, to be included in a special territory under international control. The Jews, after some hesitation, accepted the plan, but the Arabs rejected it.
In May 1948, Israel declared independence and war began. When the fighting ended and the smoke cleared from the battlefields, it turned out that the western half of Jerusalem was under Israeli control, and the eastern half, including the Old City, was in the hands of the Transjordanian Arabs. The latter hastened to blow up the synagogues located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and expel its population.
In 1950, Transjordan unilaterally annexed the territory of East Jerusalem. The legality of this step was recognized only by three countries - Great Britain, Pakistan and the USSR.
Tel Aviv
Israel's Declaration of Independence was read out on the porch of the house of the first mayor of Tel Aviv, Meir Dizengoff. Here the Council of the People met, headed by David Ben-Gurion, which decided that Tel Aviv would become the temporary capital of the Jewish state until it became possible to move to Jerusalem.
The very first meeting of the Knesset, which was initially called the Constituent Assembly, took place in the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem. But due to the fighting, the Israeli parliament was forced to move to Tel Aviv for nine months. The parliamentarians first met in the house of the hospitable mayor, then huddled in the building of the Kesem cinema and the nearby San Remo hotel, on the site of which the Migdal HaOpera office and residential complex was built in 1993.
Jerusalem
On December 5, 1949, the Israeli government declared Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel. Three weeks later, on December 26, 1949, the Knesset solemnly “changed its registration” to Jerusalem. Of course, we were talking only about the western part of the city. Thanks to the efforts of Israeli diplomats, 24 states moved their embassies here. True, the United States and leading European powers were not among them.
As a result of the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel gained control of both parts of Jerusalem and extended sovereignty to the entire territory of the city. At first, local residents refused Israeli citizenship, hoping for the return of Jordan, but over time, some accepted it. The rest are content with permanent resident status, which gives them all the rights of Israeli citizens except the right to vote in elections.
At the end of the 1970s, political pressure on Israel sharply increased, in which the bloc of non-aligned countries took an active part, where Arab and Islamic states set the tone. At the Sixth Conference of the Leaders of Non-Aligned Countries, a protocol was adopted stating that "the city of Jerusalem is an integral part of occupied Palestine. It must be completely abandoned and unconditionally transferred to Arab sovereignty."
These protocols were dated July 22, 1980, and they forced Israel to dot all the i's regarding the status of the city. Eight days later, the Knesset adopted the Basic Law of Jerusalem, which established the city's status as the Israeli capital and established the protection of the holy places of the three Abrahamic religions from desecration and any action that could offend the feelings of believers.
The UN Security Council, in resolution 478, declared this action illegal. The resolution was only advisory in nature, but it called on countries whose embassies were located in the Holy City to leave it. 13 states listened and moved their embassies to Tel Aviv that same year. Other countries gradually followed suit. Costa Rica and El Salvador were the last to leave Jerusalem in 2006.
In 1988, Jordanians renounced their little-recognized rights to Judea and Samaria in favor of a future Palestinian state. As a result, the Palestinians began to lay claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of their yet-to-be-established state. The Palestinians' position is supported by other Arab and Islamic states, which adds further confusion to our issue. Today, Jerusalem is one of the key topics of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Today
Seaside Tel Aviv has become the economic center of Israel. But it is important for Israelis that Jerusalem remains the spiritual and political capital of the country.
Therefore, satellite cities that have actually grown into it - Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim and others - are not annexed to Tel Aviv, and Krayot is not annexed to Haifa. This emphasizes Jerusalem's status as the country's most populous city. In 2013, Jerusalem has more than 800 thousand inhabitants, 64 percent of whom are Jewish Israelis.
You can have different attitudes towards Israel and recognize or not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. But the mention of Tel Aviv as the Israeli capital speaks either of ignorance of historical facts or of dishonesty. Therefore, for ethical and professional reasons, it is better to avoid mentioning the name of the Israeli capital than to write a deliberate lie.
There were also no precedents in history when anyone encroached on the right of a state to determine its capital. And especially so that this right is contested not by the state, but national autonomy, which arose much later than both the city and the state.
The right to determine which city is the capital is an integral part of the sovereignty of the state. By challenging this right, the country's sovereignty is actually being challenged. But it is pointless and absurd to do this with a self-sufficient and successful state, recognized by the world community and existing for more than half a century.
So, Shomron, Samaria are the most primordial Jewish lands, sung by the Bible along with Judea, and it is this land that the Palestinian Arabs today want to “unify”...
We - three buses accompanied by several dozen Israeli soldiers - arrived in the city of Shomron, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Israel, the city that gives its name to the central mountainous region of our country, with permission from the Palestinian authorities, which they grant several times a year.
Stop at the entrance to zone "B". The jeeps meeting us appeared through the armored window of the bus. There were an unusually large number of them. Shame: we are going to the capital of the Israeli state with a special pass, under escort...
Yellow armored buses pulled into a dusty, unpaved square surrounded by Arab souvenir shops. Part of the convoy remained with the vehicles, while others scattered across the mountain to guard us.
Here, in the northern, second capital of the country (about the same as in Russia - St. Petersburg), complete abandonment now reigns. This place is our terrible shame.
Shame because here the Jewish kings turned the people away from the Torah. This city became a symbol of the schism and dual power of the Jewish state. It's a shame because the modern State of Israel does not allow Jews to travel here. Jews are not allowed to enter their former northern capital!
But this place is unique! On the Shomron mound, ruins from almost all eras of the history of the Promised Land were found. From the era of the Kingdom of Israel, the remains of the royal palace, ivory plates, shards with inscriptions from three thousand years ago, part of the fortress wall have been preserved, and on the edge of the hill are the graves of the prophets Elisha and Obadiah...
The views here - I couldn’t find the right word - are Samarian, such as can only be found in Shiloh, another abandoned Jewish capital.
According to the TaNaKh, Shomron is the only city originally built by Jews in the Land of Israel. The masonry of the walls is impressive (somewhere nine centuries before the Kotel - the western wall of the Temple Mount).
After a short descent along the southern slope we find ourselves on the central Roman street. The colonnade leads to the western gate of the city walls. Archaeologists have found about 600 columns here.
My love is stone carving. Its fragments are very well preserved, despite the softness of the local stone. His naive desire to be like marble makes me smile.
Most of the mountain has not been touched by excavations at all: olive trees and cacti grow lushly on it...
This is how I celebrated Independence Day this year.
Israel's independence day from its former capital.
If only they didn’t give up Jerusalem...
Toldot.ru
Abraham COHEN
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Notice: Undefined variable: thumbnail in /home/forumdai/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/wp-postratings.php on line 1176The country's third largest city and largest seaport Israel lies on the slopes of Mount Carmel. For a long time, the city developed as a port appendage of Acre and gradually turned into the country's central sea gate and a major railway junction. Haifa differs sharply from other cities in Israel - business life is constantly in full swing here, there is a strong influence of European traditions and a softer embodiment of the norms of Judaism - it is the only city in the country where public transport and most entertainment venues operate on Saturdays.
The main attraction of the city is the biblical Mount Carmel (“God’s Vineyard”, 546 m), on which Elijah the Prophet lived and which is considered the “homeland” of the Carmelite order. Nowadays, the mountain is occupied by city blocks and covered with numerous gardens and parks, among which observation decks and famous monasteries are picturesquely scattered - the Catholic monastery of the Carmelite Order (XIII century), the Great Synagogue of Haifa on Herzl Street, the cave of Elijah the Prophet and the temple crowned with a golden dome. Bahais with its famous Persian Gardens and the tomb of the founder of this religious movement - El-Baha (Baba or Bar-Mirza-Ali-Muhammad).
At Cape Carmel lies the extensive archaeological site of Tel Shikmona ("Sycamore Hill"). Also interesting are the Stella Maris building ("Starfish"), the old Technion (Israel Institute of Technology, 1912), the colorful Moshava-Germanite district ("German colony"), the Druze villages of Isfiya and Daliyat el-Carmel, Gann -Em ("Mother's Garden") with the Museum of Ancient History and a zoo located on its territory, the Haifa City Museum complex, the Meni Katz Museum, the Museum of Illegal Immigration, the National Maritime Museum, the Music Museum, the Museum of Japanese Folk Art with a real rock garden in Japanese style, the Sculpture Garden on Zionism Boulevard and the Kababir quarter, where followers of the Muslim sect of Ahmed live. One of the largest and most beautiful parks in Israel is the vast HaCarmel Nature Reserve, adjacent to the campus of the University of Haifa. In the northern spurs of the Carmel Ridge lies a magnificent memorial park surrounding the tomb of Baron Rothschild and his wife.
Akko
Ancient Acre, located 13 km south of Haifa, is another tourist pearl of the country. The first mention of the city dates back to 1800 BC. e., but the era of the Crusades brought it real fame, when the city became the capital of the Crusaders in Palestine and was surrounded by powerful defensive structures. Therefore, not a single city of the Crusaders has survived to this day in such a preserved condition as Acre.
The main attractions are concentrated in the Old Town, surrounded by massive walls. The main ones are the Citadel (1785) with the Museum of Heroism, old fortress walls, huge medieval city gates, Burj el-Sultan watchtower, Al-Jazar Mosque (1781), St. Francis Monastery (XVII century), recently discovered by archaeologists "City of the Crusaders" (citadel of the Order of St. John), building Turkish baths(XVIII century) with an exhibition of the city museum, caravanserai Khan el-Umdan (1785), Clock Tower (1906), etc.
Nazareth
The holy city of the Christian world, the place where Christ spent his childhood. Here are the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation (1969) - the largest cathedral in the Middle East, the picturesque Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel on the site of the fountain of the Virgin Mary, Sepphoris National Park (Zippori, the parental home of the Virgin Mary) to the west of the city, Mount Tabor (site of the Transfiguration of the Lord ), the village of Nain, Kfar Kana east of Nazareth, where Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding ceremony, the remains of Roman water tanks in which Jesus turned water into wine, as well as the ancient Jewish city of Zippori with a Crusader fortress and numerous archaeological sites.
Tiberias
The main spiritual center of the country after the expulsion of the Jews from Jerusalem and the birthplace of Israel's writing, Tiberias (Tiberias) is located in the northeast of the country, on the shores of the Yam Kinneret (Lake of Galilee). Tiberias is one of the four holy cities for Jews (Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias and Safed). The streets and alleys of the Old Town are narrow and winding, and the ancient houses made of black basalt give the panorama a special charm. Every year, tens of thousands of people flock to Tiberias to worship national shrines - the tombs of Maimonides or the Rambam (author of one of the first codes of Judaism), Yochanaan ben Zakai and Rabbi Akiva. No less attractive are the Greek Orthodox Temple of the Twelve Apostles, the ruins of a synagogue (6th century) in the hot springs area, as well as the remains of the ancient Jewish city of Hamat-Tiberias (1st-4th centuries AD). Since 1955, the Hamei-Tiberias balneological resort complex has been operating on the basis of 17 local springs with temperatures up to +63C and healing mud “piloma”. In the vicinity of the lake there are beautiful holiday homes. At the point where the Jordan River exits Yam Kinneret, Jordanit is a traditional place of baptism in the waters of the sacred river. On the northern shore of the lake lies Capernaum (Kfar Nachum), where Jesus lived and preached, and is now being excavated to reveal a Franciscan church and monastery on the Mount of the Sermon on the Mount (Beats).
Safed
Lying on the top of a mountain at an altitude of 800 m, Safed is one of the oldest and most mysterious places in Israel. The spiritual center of Kabbalah, one of the impregnable fortress cities of the Zealots, one of the largest holy cities of Judaism today, famous for its artist communities, art galleries and workshops in the charming Artists' Quarter, as well as for its ancient synagogues Abohav, Banai, Karo, Ashkenazi and Sephardi synagogue Ha -Ari.
Israel Center
Tel Aviv ("Hill of Spring")
The first Jewish city of the modern state of Israel, founded in 1909 as a suburban area of Jaffa. After 5 years, 2 thousand people already lived here, in the 30s it turned into the capital of the Jewish Yishuv of Eretz Israel, and today more than 1 million people live in this metropolis. The central offices of the country's largest banks and companies, as well as representative offices, are located here foreign countries and companies. Due to its relative youth, the city is not rich in historical attractions.
Noteworthy are the Independence Palace, where the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948, the shopping, entertainment and cultural complex "Migdal Opera" ("Opera Tower") on the embankment, the Azrieli Center skyscraper, the "Cinematheque", the national theater Israel's "Habima" (1957), famous for its original architecture, the Tel Aviv Center (Museum) for the Performing Arts (1971) on Shaul HaMelech Boulevard, the picturesque neighborhoods of Neve Tzedek and Dizengoff, the Tel Aviv Art Museum and Library "Shaar Zion". Of interest are the Beit HaTfutsot Museum (Diaspora, 1978) on the territory of Tel Aviv University, the Eretz Israel Museum (Land of Israel, 1953) with an extensive collection of objects from the history of various cultures and a library, the Bruno Gallery art gallery, and also the house-museums of the poet Chaim Nachman Bialik and David Ben-Gurion.
But still it's not historical city– for history you should go to Jaffa. But Tel Aviv is the center of intense business activity and vibrant nightlife, Israeli industry, trade, finance, culture, sports and entertainment. Both on modern avenues, and in the old southern quarters, and along the picturesque Tel Aviv embankment, thousands of cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops, markets and supermarkets are concentrated. Life here never stops for a minute. Interesting are the youth bar "Buzz Stop", night clubs "Doxo" and "Stephan Brown", the Russian club "Blin", the oriental restaurant "Abulafia", the restaurant "Caucasus", the sports complex "Sportek" and many other establishments.
The market ("shuk") of Carmel in the Yemeni quarter is one of the largest bazaars under open air in the Middle East. Yarkon Park is famous for its green lawns, a botanical garden and a Japanese-style rock garden, the Tsapari bird park and the real “Seven Mills” that operated here until 1936. The local zoo is considered one of the best in Asia. Tel Aviv's yacht clubs ("marinas") are some of the most convenient in the Mediterranean, the Meimadyon water park has every conceivable type of water attractions and a children's playground, and the city's long beaches are equipped with the most modern recreation and entertainment facilities. At the Tel Aviv Yacht Club you can rent equipment for windsurfing, diving or any other outdoor activity. Many sports facilities are concentrated along Rokah Boulevard.
Jaffa
Jaffa (Jaffa) is one of the main ports of ancient Israel and one of the oldest cities in the world, it is believed that it was here that Noah built his ark, somewhere here Perseus freed Andromeda and from here the prophet Jonah set off, here a vision appeared to the Apostle Peter and was The righteous Tabitha was resurrected. It was from here that the return of Jews to Israel began.
Old Jaffa has long merged with Tel Aviv into one metropolis and has become a large tourist and artistic center with numerous restaurants, galleries, workshops, flea markets, salons, museums and archaeological excavations. The main population here is also unique - artists, musicians, sculptors and other people in creative professions. You can wander endlessly through the old streets of Jaffa, discovering something new at every turn and at every house. Interesting are the Jaffa theater "Ha-Simta" ("Lane"), the Museum of Antiquities of Tel Aviv and Jaffa and the Museum of History of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the Gesher Theater in the Noga Hall (here they play in Russian), the Frank Sculpture Salon Meisler, the underground archaeological museum on Kdumim Square or the Russian-language disco "Megapolis". Old Jaffa has many art galleries and shops, among which the most interesting is the Gabrieli Knitwear Gallery.
South of Jaffa lies the seaside town of Bat Yam ("Mermaid") - one of the favorite seaside resorts of Israelis. There are more than 3 km of sandy beaches, a large city park, state-of-the-art center recreation, there is even a large artificial skating rink! You can visit the Ben-Ari cultural center and the Fisherman's House art museum. In Ramla, located 20 km from Tel Aviv, the 30-meter minaret of the White Tower Mosque (13th century) and the Church of Nicodemus and Joseph (1902) are interesting. 20 km from Tel Aviv lies, first mentioned in the chronicles of the 15th century BC. e. the city of Lod (Lud), in which, according to legend, St. George is buried. Above the supposed tomb of the saint in the 6th century. a basilica was erected, on the ruins of which the crusaders built a church, restored after numerous destructions only in 1870. Two ancient mosques, baths and a caravanserai have also been preserved. In the Modiin area, a huge number of mounds (“tels”) have been preserved, hiding the ruins of ancient settlements, as well as numerous graves carved into the slopes of the surrounding hills.
Jerusalem
The holy city of Jerusalem, which is more than 3 thousand years old, is the main attraction of the area, one of the oldest cities in the world, “the capital of three religions.” The ancient capital of Israel, the city called Jebus under King David, is a fantastic mixture of history, cultures and peoples. The number of attractions here is simply huge, so it’s worth spending more time on this unique place.
The city is surrounded by mountains, so it’s better to start getting acquainted with its history from the observation deck on Maslenichnaya Mountain (793 m). Beyond the Kidron River one can see the old fortress walls, and behind them are numerous domes of temples, “candles” of minarets and the roofs of the Old City. In the northwestern part of the Old Town lies the Christian Quarter, where the shrine of the Christian world is located - the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (1149 AD, repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt) with a small chapel "Edicule" (Holy Sepulcher, 1810), a majestic the Temple of the Resurrection, which houses part of the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, and the remains of a quarry from the times of the First Temple. Adjacent to the temple are the Church of the Savior (Redimer), the Alexandria Compound, the ruins of the Gate of Judgment, above the threshold of which is the Church of Alexander Nevsky, the sad Golgotha, the Greek Church of St. Helena, the Stone of Anointing and the chapel of the forefather Adam. Behind one of the markets of the Old City, on Muristan Street, is located one of the most remarkable churches in the city, the Church of the Atonement (1898), and one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem - John the Baptist (8th century AD). Opposite the Greek Patriarchate lies the Church of Constantine and Helena (6th century AD), several churches and chapels that make up the majestic Greek monastery. Not far from the monastery, between the New and Jaffa Gates, there is the building of the Roman Catholic Patriarchate and theological seminary, as well as the Monastery of the Savior (St. Savior).
Beyond the Lion Gate within the Old City lies the Via Delarosa (Dolorosa or Sorrowful Way), along which, according to biblical legends, Christ made his way to Calvary. Throughout the Path of Sorrows, churches and monuments mark all stages of the Messiah's journey. Within the Via Delarosa, you should definitely see the Garden of Gethsemane behind the Lion Gate, where Christ was arrested, the monastery of St. Anne (mother of the Virgin Mary), the underground font of Bethesda (Sheep Font), the El Omaria (Omrim) school on the site of the Antonia fortress, the Chapel of the Flagellation and Condemnations, the monastery of the Sisters of Zion, the building of the Armenian Patriarchate, the chapel of St. Veronica and the Church of Our Lady of the Great Martyr. The tomb of Herod's family, Terra Santa, lies somewhat to the north.
North of Via Delarosa lies the Muslim quarter of the old city, which is adjacent to the Temple Mount (Haar HaMoria) with the sacred courtyard of the Haram el-Sherif. Here rises the golden dome of the Mosque of the Rock, or Dome of the Rock (Kipat-a "Sela, Mosque of Omar, 688-692), erected above the sanctuary of Solomon's Temple, in which, according to legend, the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This is the most important sanctuary of Islam - hence the prophet ascended to heaven, where the covenants of Islam were revealed to him, and the oldest surviving Muslim building in the world. Here you can see the footprint of the prophet on the rock and three hairs from his beard. South of Kipat-a-Sela lies the no less revered Al-Aqsa Mosque (El). -Aktsa, 693), as well as the mosque of the Dome of the Chain, the Prophet and Prophet Elias.
South-west of Haar HaMoria there is a Jewish quarter with unique historical monuments, such as the remains of the watchtower of ancient Jerusalem - the Tower of Israel, a model of the First Temple, the remains of the Citadel of David with the Museum of the History of Jerusalem, the Southern Wall, the Hasmonean tunnels, Robinson's Arch, Warren's Well , Wilson and Berkeley arches, as well as the wide staircase of Maalot Rabi Yehuda, leading to a place sacred to every Jew - the Western Wall (Western Wall), made of huge stone monoliths. According to religious tradition, Jews must come to the Jerusalem Temple three times a year, so the only building that has survived from it has long been an object of pilgrimage - near it you can always find praying Jews, putting notes with appeals to God into the cracks between the stones.
The Valley of the Kings is located southwest of the Temple Mount, between the Church of Gethsemane and the Gehenome Valley to the south. Its main attraction is the City of David, where the construction of Jerusalem began in the era of King David. These places are home to many archaeological sites - the Pillar of Absalom, the Tomb of Bnei Hezir, the ancient area of Ophel and the Tanners' Arch. No less interesting are the areas of Jerusalem that lie outside the Old City. The beautiful Jerusalem Municipality building stands in Safra Square. Somewhat further west is Migrash-a-Rusim (Russian Compound) with the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (1863), the Court of First Instance and the Museum of Underground Prisoners in the building of a former British prison. In the same area are the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) Church and the Monastery of St. Joseph. Along the central street of the city, Jaffa, stretches a whole series of attractions - Davidki Square (Kikar-a-Herut, named after the homemade Davidka mortar, actively used by the Israelis during the War of Independence), the main market of the city - Mahane Yehuda, the largest concert Jerusalem Hall - Binyanei-a'Uma (Palace of the Nation), Allenby Memorial, Clock Tower Synagogue (1906) and the picturesque Orthodox Jewish quarter of Mea Shearim ("one hundred gates").
On the slope of the Givat Ram hill there is the Knesset building (1966) - the seat of the Israeli parliament, as well as the old Kiriya parliament building, the Supreme Court (1992), the huge Givat Ram university campus, the Hebrew Academy, Orth College, the amphitheater, the National the Israel Museum (1965) with a sculptural art garden named after Billy Rose and unique exhibitions, the Monastery of the Holy Cross (IV century BC), as well as the Temple of the Book, which houses the famous “Dead Sea Scrolls”, Museum of the Biblical Land etc. The southern slope of the hill is occupied by a botanical garden.
Mount Herzl (Har Herzl) is home to the National Cemetery, where prominent Israeli figures are buried, and the Theodor Herzl (Benyamin Zeev) Museum. At the foot of the mountain lies the area of Ein Kerem ("spring in the vineyard"), in which, according to legend, John the Baptist was born. Now here you can see the churches of St. John (1674), the Visitation (1955), the monastery of the Sisters of Zion (1860), the Russian Orthodox convent (founded at the end of the 19th century) with the Church of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, the Catholic monastery of sisters Rosaries (1910), and also visit the Truga Music Center and a small synagogue with Chagall stained glass windows. On the Hill of Remembrance, west of Har Herzel, is the national memorial Yad Vashem (Eternal Memory, 1953), dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, around which there is a park named after Janusz Korczak.
It is worth visiting the Art Gallery, the curious Latrun Museum in the Ayalon Valley - one of the best military museums in the world, with its own souvenir department, and the Monkey Park (80 thousand sq. m) in Kfar Daniel is also interesting. Near the train station are the Khan Theater in an ancient caravanserai building, the Church of St. Andrew (Bruce Church, 1927), the ruins of a Byzantine church and many ancient cave burials from the First Temple. To the east of the station is the hill of Abu Tor (Givat Hananiyah), which offers magnificent views of the Old City, the monasteries of Hakel Dama, St. Peter in Glockento, the Tomb of David, the Albert Music Center, and the Yaar-a-park area. Shalom, Hell and Kidron Valleys.
Mount Scopus (Gar-A"tzofim, 826 m) is located to the west of the city and is another magnificent observation point. The Hebrew University is located here. Outside the Old City there is also the famous Kidron (or Jehoshaphat) Valley with tombs from the beginning of our era, a church St. Magdalene, the Ratisbon monastery (1874), the tomb of Jason (2nd century BC), the largest synagogue in Jerusalem (1982) and one of the largest synagogues in Jerusalem - Yeshurun, as well as Gehal Shlomo (palace Solomon), Independence Park (Gunn-Atzmaut), Rubin Academy of Music and many other historical and cultural monuments.
The city has an incredible number of museums - the Rockefeller Museum, the Museum of the Lands of the Bible, the Museum of Mishkanot a-Rozim (Bedouin life) behind the governor's palace, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Mandelbaum Museum, the Armenian Museum, the Tycho House Museum, the Museum natural sciences, Museum of Islam on the Temple Mount, Archaeological Museum of Woli, Museum of the Old Yishuv (Jewish Community), Museum of the Last Day, Museum of Taxes, Museum of the Guard Post in the Turjeman House, Funicular Museum, Museum-Studio of Ancient Crafts named after Ein Yael, etc. d. They attract no less attention from tourists biblical zoo, Rabinovich Park with a giant statue of the "Monster", the children's theater Akaron ("car"), Saker Park with attractions, as well as Paamon and Dror parks.
Many open-air cafes and restaurants can be found on Ben Yehuda Boulevard in the bustling city center. Many pubs have appeared in the Russian Compound, in the very heart of the city, and the Talpiot area is considered a discotheque. Nachalat Shiva and Yoel Salomon streets are considered "young people's neighborhoods," and Feingold Court is home to some of Jerusalem's best restaurants. In July and August, local restaurants hold mini open-air culinary festivals every Tuesday evening. In recent years, the city's nightlife has also become noticeably livelier. From Jerusalem you can also make an interesting trip to the archaeological research sites in the Land of Canaan by jeep.
Netanya
The largest resort on the Mediterranean coast, a major center of citrus growing and the center of the country's powerful diamond industry. The city is famous for its clean beaches, modern recreational facilities and hotels, as well as an abundance of museums, among which the Beit Hagdudim (Jewish Legion) Museum, the Pninat Shivtea Israel Museum (Pearl of the Tribes of Israel), and the Museum of Archeology, Nature and Art stand out. , Municipal Gallery, Netanya Cultural Center and Yemeni Folklore Center. Most of the cozy restaurants and cafes are concentrated around Kiker Ha'atzmaut Square. To the south of Netanya lies the fashionable (and expensive!) resort of Herzliya, famous for its beautiful beaches and excellent yacht mooring.
Caesarea
Built by King Herod and serving as the capital of the country during the period of Roman rule, Caesarea was first mentioned in the mid-3rd century. BC e. Nowadays, almost the entire territory of the ancient city is included in the national park of the same name. The oldest theater discovered in Israel, the ruins of the magnificent “Palace on the Reef”, the amphitheater of King Herod (Itztadion), sections of city streets from the Roman and Byzantine periods, a complex of public baths from the Byzantine period with magnificent decoration, a large artificial port of the Hellenic era and a fortified city have been preserved -a port of the Arab period, the ruins of a temple complex in which buildings of the Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Crusader periods were mixed. Also interesting are the Square of Statues of the Roman period, the ruins of a synagogue from the Byzantine period, the remains of a Roman fortress wall, the hippodrome (2nd century AD), fragments of aqueducts and the Rally Museum.
Ashkelon
An ancient Canaanite port city and center of Hellenic culture, now just a small resort town on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Today, most of the city's ancient monuments are concentrated in the national park, which displays the ruins of Herod's colonnades and ancient synagogues, a Roman alley and amphitheater, the "Crusader Wall" and other remains of ancient structures discovered by archaeologists. On the coastal slope of Afridar beach there is a cave with the tombs of four members of a wealthy Roman family (III century AD), and on the top of the rock are the ruins of a Byzantine church (V-VI centuries) and a residential building with a fairly well-preserved mosaic floor. And, of course, excellent beaches along the entire city limits.
South of the country
Eilat
In the very south of the country, on the Red Sea coast, surrounded on all sides by a wall of high mountains and desert sands, lies the best seaside resort in the country - Eilat. Ancient Eilat, which bore the name Etzion Geber, was located on the El-Huleifa hill slightly east of the modern city (now the territory of Jordan). The waters of the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) provide excellent opportunities for sea recreation and active tourism - more than 12 km of first-class beaches, the northernmost coral reefs in Eurasia, constantly warm and crystal clear clear water, the geological wonders of "King Solomon's Mines" in the Timna Nature Reserve, the world's only Biblical Wildlife Park, the Red Canyon of Adom and the rare beauty of the rock, an abundance of greenery and the most modern entertainment.
You can visit the Underwater Observatory in Marina Park, the Oceanarium, the Dolphin Reef, the Diamond Center, the "Texas Ranch", attraction number 1 in Eilat - "Journey to a Wonderful World" at the Hilton - Queen of Sheba Hotel, one of the most modern shooting facilities in the world shooting range at the Ambassador Hotel, or dive into the depths of the sea on the yellow submarine "Jacqueline" for 47 passengers, go to sea on the comfortable yacht "Jules Verne", catamaran "Atlantis-220" or "Coral Pearl". You can travel by jeep to the very heart of the desert, to Amudei Amram (Pillars of Abraham), to the “black canyon” of Shhorat, to Mount Yoash, Solomon’s Gorge with its developments of the famous “Eilat stone” or along the “red canyon” of Adom. Wildlife lovers will be interested in the coral shore of Almogim beach, the Hai Bar nature reserve, and history buffs can visit Jordanian Petra, the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai or the ancient fortress of Massada, erected by King Herod the Great.
Eilat is also a duty-free shopping zone, and the city's restaurants and nightlife - nightclubs, discos and shows - meet the most demanding tastes.