Figures released by the Israel Ministry of Tourism reveal that during the first quarter for 2004 (01 Jan 31 March) the number of Australian tourists visiting Israel grew by an impressive 92% over the same period in 2003.

This was the best first quarter tourism result since 2000.

Global growth of tourism to Israel during this period was 82%.

Part of the rather spectacular growth statistics can be attributed to the fact that at the same time last ear it was the period preceding the war in Iraq .

However, even taking this into account the growth is impressive.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism is forecasting 30-40% of growth in tourism to Israel during 2004 and there is general agreement that Israel is on target to achieve this growth.

The past week of ANZAC Day and Yom Ha'aztmaut serves as a reminder to Australian and New Zealanders of the significant connection between ANZAC and Israel .

While there is no denying the significance of Gallipoli, the greatest ANZAC victories in World War I actually took place in the land of Israel .

The charge of the Australian Light Horsemen in Beersheba on October 31, 1917 cleared the way for the British and ANZAC forces to complete the invasion of Jerusalem and Damascus which in turned paved the way for the expulsion of the Ottoman Empire, the Balfour Declaration and ultimately the establishment of the State of Israel.

A museum is being established in the former Turkish Railway station in Beersheba to commemorate the feats of ANZAC in Israel and especially the Charge of the Australian light horsemen.

In one of the true miracles of WWI 800 Australian light horsemen panicked the Turks into retreat after the Turks had held out against 54,000 British soldiers armed with tanks.

In fact the British were on the point of retreating back to Egypt because they were out of water and the light horse charge to capture Beersheba was a final desperate gamble.

The fundraising effort to establish the Beersheba ANZAC museum is being coordinated by a Melbourne teacher, Jill Curry. Jill can be contacted by email: watchmen@netspace.net.au

It is to be hoped that many of the thousands of Australians who make an annual pilgrimage to Gallipoli will feel compelled to travel to Israel to visit Beersheba and the many other important sites of Australian military history in Israel .