Dear Journalist,

His Holiness Pope John Paul II will conduct a Jubilee Pilgrimage to Israel on 21-26 March 2000. The Israel Government Press Office (GPO) will be providing facilities and services for journalists covering the visit in Jerusalem, Nazareth and the Galilee region.

Live Television Coverage

Pooled live television coverage will be provided by the Israel Broadcasting Authority, Israel Channel 2 and RAI Italian Television. The European Broadcasting Union is coordinating live television coverage in Israel (as well as in Jordan and Bethlehem with Jordan Television and Palestinian Television respectively). EBU Special Operations Producer, Mr. Lance Newhart, is responsible for obtaining live television signals. Telephone in Switzerland: (+4122) 717 28 40; mobile (+4179) 200 87 94; telephone in Israel: 972-54-636060.

Arrangements for live stand-ups have been made at the following locations only: Yad Vashem; Presidents Residence; Western Wall; Holy Mass at Korazim. Due to security considerations, most of the live stand-up locations are at a significant distance from the actual sites His Holiness will be visiting. TV journalists wishing to conduct live stand-ups in these areas must pre-register (including van information) with the Government Press Office Foreign Press Department:
Tel: 972-2-6233389/90; fax 972-2-6257886;
e-mail: gpovisit@netvision.net.il

Pooled Photo and Press Coverage

Almost all of the sites will be covered by a photo and press pool consisting of Israeli and foreign journalists. The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel will be responsible for compiling the list of pool representatives for each site. The pool members will consist of foreign journalists based in Israel. (FPA: 9 Itamar Ben Avi St., Tel Aviv 64736, Tel. 972-3-6914143; Fax: 972-3-6961548).

GPO Photo Website

The GPO will be publishing print-quality photographs of the pilgrimage on a special internet website: http://www.mof.gov.il/gpo. Archive photographs will also be available on the website.

Press Releases

The GPO News Department will provide English-language press releases via e-mail to accredited journalists with valid GPO Press Cards. Journalists interested in receiving e-mail should contact the GPO:
Tel. 972-2-6233385 or e-mail gpo@pmo.gov.il.

Press Centers

A primary press center in Jerusalem, at the International Convention Center, will function throughout the visit from Monday, 20 March, through Sunday evening, 26 March. A secondary press center at the Nazareth Marriott Hotel (2 Hermon St., Upper Nazareth), will function from Thursday afternoon, 23 March through Saturday, 25 March. (Please note that, although open for journalists, the press centers' operations will be limited on Saturday.) The Jerusalem press center will provide live large screen video pictures of the visit, program information, speeches and sermons, as well as telephone lines, faxes and computer services.

Registration for Visit

Press credentials will be issued at the Jerusalem press center from Sunday, 19 March, 16:00 hours (see registration form for prior registration). Journalists arriving earlier will be able to receive press cards at the GPO offices at Beit Agron, 37 Hillel St., Jerusalem.

JOURNALISTS WITH VALID GPO CARDS DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER FOR NEW CREDENTIALS.

Passport Control at Ben-Gurion Airport

Beginning on March 16, a special passport control booth will be opened for arriving journalists. Journalists wishing to take advantage of this service should go to the specially marked passport lane which will be located to their right upon entering the arrivals hall.

Sincerely,
Moshe Fogel Director, GPO