Tel Aviv/Jaffa is a modern city on the Mediterranean coast and is Israel’s commercial and financial center as well as the focus of its cultural life. Tel Aviv is the headquarters for Israel’s major newspapers and media, stock exchange and a thriving fashion industry among many other industries. A visit to Independence Hall and museums such as the Palmach, Ayalon Institute and Diaspora are a fascinating glimpse into the formation of modern Israel. Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 as a suburb of Jaffa, one of the oldest urban settlements in the world. It was from Jaffa that Jonah set sail for Nineveh.  

Today Jaffa is a quaint area with an antique flea market, art galleries and outdoor cafes.