In November 29, 1947, the U.N decided to end the British Mandate and to divide the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea into 2 different countries – the Arab State and the Jewish State, with Jerusalem and its environs, including Bethlehem, to become a neutral zone run by the U.N.

Even though they received only a small part of the Holy Land – without Jerusalem, the Jewish people in Israel embraced the resolution and after almost 2000 years the world recognized their right of the land of Israel.

The Arabs felt cheated. Many of them lived on the land for hundreds of years and they were the majority between the river and the sea and therefore they  started what Israel called the War of Independence while the Arabs called it the ’disaster’.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Code: ARTI1

• From Ashdod Port, cross the Judean plains entering Route 1 the main road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
• Stop at “BAB EL WAD” (“SHA’AR HAGAY” in Hebrew /”GATE OF THE VALLEY” in English), a crucial landmark in the history of modern Israel. It was at this location that the Arab uprising focused their ambushes on Israeli led convoys during the War of Independence, preventing supplies, including water, food and medicine from reaching Jerusalem, as well as sabotaging the water pumping station nearby.
• Continue to CASTEL NATIONAL PARK,  one of the key sites to ensuring that the road to Jerusalem would be left open for convoys and supplies.
• BURMA ROAD, was constructed by the IDF to bypass Arab armies that were besieging Jerusalem, and in particular, to bypass the forces of the Transjordan legion which held Latrun in 1948. Although the road was only used for 6 months, it definitely saved casualties and allowed the continuance of supplies to the beleaguered people of Jerusalem.
• Drive to Jerusalem, starting at UN Headquarters which presents a commanding view of the entire southern half of the city and the Arab Village of Jabel Mukaber.
• Drive along KAV HATEFER, the seam line that separated east from west Jerusalem and pass via Turgeman Post, which guarded Mandlebaum Pass, the only crossing between east and west Jerusalem from 1948 – 1967.
• Visit AMMUNITION HILL (Giv’at HaTahmoshet), a military post in the northern part of Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem, and the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Six Day War.
• Visit MT. HERZL and depending on time schedule Hertzl Museum.

“IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CRUISE EXCURSIONS”

Tour Options

Below is a list of sites on the same route and close in themes which can be exchanged or added, depending on personal preferences and time constraints.

The tour may be operated as a JOINT TOUR enabling you to share expenses which allows you the benefits of a private tour excursion at a price competitive with bus tours.GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

GROUP TOURS can be arranged for large groups enabling itinerary flexibility and adaptability to groups requirements, interests, language etc.

OPTIONAL SITES

Yad La Shiriyon: the Armed Corps Tank Museum & Memorial in Latrun.
Nebi Samuel: a highly strategic location commanding one of the routes to Jerusalem and some of Jerusalem’s neighborhoods as well as traditional burial of the prophet Samuel
Yad Mordechai: a kibbutz founded by young Polish immigrants who were members of the Zionist youth movement, and it was named in memory of Mordechai Anielewicz, the 24-year-old leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. In Israel’s War of Independence, the kibbutz managed to defend itself in a fierce battle with the Egyptian forces, preventing them from reaching Tel Aviv. The museum “From Holocaust to Revival” was established to pass on the memory of the Holocaust and ghetto uprisings to a new generation. Visitors are led through stage after stage of Jewish history, from the Holocaust and the partisan battles of World War II, to the illegal immigration to the Land of Israel and the founding of the State.