Tourist and Travel Services : Isreal

Tourist and Travel Services urael Ministry of Tourism: Jerusalem, 24 King George St. 94262 (tel. (02) 75 48 11, fax 25 08 90); Tel Aviv, 5 Shalom Aleichem St. (tel. (03) 510 1451); Haifa, 18 He’rzl St. (tel. 66 65 21), and 14 other cities. Maps, train schedules, and information on current events. Voluntary Tourist Service (VTS) arranges for tourists to spend an, evening with Israeli families (ask about Meet the Israelis program).

Israel Youth Hostel Association: 3 Dorot Rishonim St., P.O. Box 1075, Jerusalem 91009 (tel. (02) 25 27 06, fax 25 06 76). Operates 31 hostels. Organizes tours for croups and individuals to Israel, Sinai, Jordan, and Egypt.

National Parks Authority: 4 Rav Aluf M. Makleff St., P.O. Box 7028, Tel Aviv 61070 (tel. (03)695 2281, fax 26 76 43). Material on parks and historical sites. Also sells a 14-day ticket (NIS35) for admission to all sites; available in Tel Aviv only.

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (HaHevra LeHaganat HaTeva, SPNI): Jerusalem, 13 Helen! haMalka St. (tel. (02) 25 23 57); Tel Aviv (main office), 4 HaShfela St. 66183, near the central bus station (tel. (03) 537 4425, fax 38 39 40); Haifa, 8 HaMenahem St. (tel. (04)66 41 35); Be’er Sheva, Sderot Tuvia (tel (057) 321 56). In the U.S., contact Mosaic Tours & Travel, 420 Lincoln Rd., #448, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (tel. (305) 672-0011. In the U.K., UKSPNI, 25 Lyn-dale Ave., London NW2 2QB (tel. (071) 435 6803, fax 794 0291). Organizes hikes and camping trips. Dues US$36 per year, US$30 for students.

Israel Camping Union: P.O. Box 53, Nahariya 22100 (tel. (04) 92 53 92). Write for information about organized camping tours and a full list of campsites.

Israel Student Travel Association (1SSTA): Jerusalem, 31 HaNeviim St., 95103 (tel (02) 25 72 57, fax (02) 24 04 62); Tel Aviv, 109 Ben-Yehuda St. 63401 (tel. (03) 527 0111, fax 523 0698); Haifa, 2 Balfour St. 33121 (tel. (04) 67 02 22 or 66 91 39, fax 67 66 97). Information about tours, student discounts, and ID cards.