In step for 600-mile Israel hike
A LONDON couple are to walk the entire length of Israel in a bid to counter negative views of the country.
Gil Drori and Bex Band, both 28, will set off next month from Kibbutz Dan, the country’s most northern point, and finish at Eilat, over 600 miles later.
Their route will take them past Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Negev Desert, and will take two months to complete.
The pair will carry all their camping equipment, and will sleep in the wild, but this will not be a mere camping adventure. Along the way they aim to speak to 100 people from all walks of life and share their stories and photographs on their website.
Ms Band, a teacher, said: “My husband is Israeli and for the past six years that we’ve lived in London we’ve picked up on a lot of negativity when people talk about Israel.
“There are so many different cul- tures and stories there; we want to show how diverse it really is. Israel is a very warm and welcoming place and we want to show this to the world.”
The trip is entirely self-funded but the couple have been sponsored by Source, an Israeli outdoor company.
The pair have been preparing by doing long-distance walks in Britain.
Ms Band said: “One of the biggest challenges will be the heat. The best way to manage is to be well prepared. We’re fit and ready; we know our route and all the plans are in place.”
Ms Band and Jerusalem-born Mr Drori, an account manager for a software firm, are also raising money for Ace, an education charity building a school in a deprived community in Tanzania. Their goal is to raise £10,000.
“Our friends and family think we’re nuts but they are thrilled for us. Gil is keen to show his home country to his English friends and to get people excited about Israel,” said Ms Band.