At the initiative of the Jewish Agency sponsored Partnership 2000 program and the Pittsburgh Jewish partner community, “The Partnership 2000 Trail” was inaugurated this past Monday May 11, 2009 between Karmiel and the Misgav Regional Council. Dozens of cyclists from the Misgav region and surrounding area were the first to ride the length of the route.

The “Partnership 2000 Trail” is a bi-directional cycling route that connects between the neighboring communities of Karmiel and Misgav. The 35 km  (21.75 mi) route crosses through residential neighborhoods, open spaces and nature reserves and is fully expected to attract thousands of professional and amateur cycling enthusiasts and visitors from Israel and abroad. Starting at the Pittsburgh-Baltimore Boardwalk in Karmiel’s Givat Ram neighborhood the trail meanders down through the “Nachal Hilazon” Riverbed, across the olive groves of Yodfat and the Bedouin village of Sha’ab where the trail makes the climb to the “Horbat Rosh Zit” ruins until its finish point at the Australia Park at the Misgav Regional Campus. This is a bi-directional cycling/hiking trail that is divided into a number of segments: the cycling trail within the Karmiel neighborhoods is a trail suitable for the entire family, the Hilazon, Yodfat groves until the Segev Forest is suitable for mountain biking. The trail has a number of entrance and exit points throughout its entirety, thereby allowing the hiker/biker to select the section of the trail best suited for this skill level and capabilities, the composition of his cycling group and the time available.

Attending the inaugural ceremonies were Raya Strauss, international chairperson of the Partnership 2000 program, Rani Trainin, chairperson of the Israel Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Adi Eldar, mayor of the City of Karmiel, Ron Shani, mayor of the Misgav Regional Council and representatives of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community.

Raya Strauss, P2K chairperson, cut the ribbon and opened the trail for cyclists and hikers. Dozens of riders from the Teamisgav and Spider cycling teams took to the trail for their first ride along the newly marked route.

Rani Trainin, Israel Department chair said, “This is our flagship project. Cycling is friendships, coping with difficulties, health, love of the land and others. This is an excellent opportunity for Jews from around the world to become better acquainted with their partners here as well as a fantastic opportunity to enhance our relationship with minority groups throughout the State of Israel. If Partnership 2000 did not exist we would have had to invent it”.

Karmiel’s mayor Adi Eldar welcomed the initiative saying, “The Partnership 2000 Trail expresses the real partnership between the communities and I hope that the physical connection will give birth to even more regional cooperative ventures between Karmiel and Pittsburgh, Karmiel and Misgav and between us and the Sha’ab Local Council that is a partner in this unique hiking/biking trail.

The trail is the product of intensive activities that have gone on for nearly a year and included the development of a schematic design and understandings between the various partners, among them, the City of Karmiel, Misgav Regional Council, Sha’ab Local Council, KKL-JNF, the National Parks and Reserve Authority and the Israel Antiquities Authority. To situate it as a tourist attraction in the region emphasis was placed on selecting a unique route, preparing the land, mapping the dangers, posting signs and producing a map and website.

Ron Shani, Misgav Mayor said, “This trail must be a part of the expanded regional development of trails from the Mediterranean to the Kinneret and from the north down to the south of the country”.

According to Louis Kushner, outgoing Pittsburgh Partnership 2000 chairperson, “we looked for something exciting and we got WOW! On behalf of all of the Pittsburghers this is a dream fulfilled”.

For more information concerning the trail, visit its website at http://www.p2ktrail.org.il.

For Viewing A video of the ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqnxIqlSMeo