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Thousands of Israelis spent S8.75 a
ticket to see the recently released Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, being
shown in English and in Hebrew at
local theaters.
The book on which the movie is
based is the top-selling paperback at
Steimatzky's, an Israeli bookstore chain.
"They're all snatching it up, adults
and children," said Yehudit, a cashier at
,a Steimatzky's in Jerusalem. "It's pure
escapism."
It isn't hard to understand why Israelis
are looking for activities to divert their
attention from the news.
If each hourly news broadcast doesn't
begin with an attack, it opens with news
of the 2002 budget, which government
ministers are slashing in an effort to deal
with the faltering economy.
Some Israelis have taken to muse-
um-going to escape their woes.
James Snyder, director of the Israel
Museum in Jerusalem, described it as a
matter of seeking "culture in complex
times."
A third of the museum's visitors
used to be tourists, with the remaining
two-thirds Israelis, half of those from
Jerusalem. But the ongoing violence
has taken a bite out of the tourist
business.
As a result, museum officials were
not expecting any big numbers in July,
when they opened an exhibit of treas-
ures from China.
They were pleasantly surprised to
have 3,000 people at the opening. It
was a similar story when the
Chanukah festival opened last week, as
crowds of parents and children flocked
into the museum.
"They're coming because it makes
them feel good," Snyder said. "In a
crazy way, we're kind of expected to
help them sustain a sense of robustness
and vitality."
Israelis seeking an escape have been
driving down to the Dead Sea in
increasing numbers, according to hotel
managers in the region.
"Israelis are getting lots of deals
these days," said Daniel Shalev, a man-
ager at the Grand Nirvana Resort.
There are currently 15 hotels on the
Dead Sea, .providing a total of some
4,000 rooms in need of occupants.
Most of the hotels are offering
three-night deals and two-for-one spa
treatment packages in an effort to
entice Israeli visitors.
"Israelis aren't afraid to drive down
here, and they know they can get rest
and relaxation," said Gabi Beck, man-
ager at the newly built Royal Hotel.
"That's what everyone needs these
days." El
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2001
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