Lord Levy isn’t happy. Actually, that isn’t strictly accurate; sitting in warm sunshine, eating breakfast with his wife Gilda, in Bubbe’s, one of two breakfast venues at Eilat’s Royal Beach Hotel, the chairman of Jewish Care seems remarkably happy and relaxed, especially at the end of a year during which JFS (of which he is president) has been riven by seismic legal judgements, and in which he underwent emergency heart bypass surgery.

Around 150 passengers were given a champagne welcome when they flew into Eilat City airport on the inaugural Isrotel Sun Express flight from Luton on Sunday night.

The flight – the first of a programme running through the winter – was arranged by the UK-owned hotel chain to provide direct flights between London and the Red Sea Resort.

Rafi Sadeh, managing director of Isrotel said they had decided to provide the charter flights for those booking packages at their hotels to “keep the UK market alive”.

It’s midnight outside the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and the place is humming. The last cinema-goers have left but the open courtyard in front is suddenly a mass of wheels — bicycles and trollies, but most of all rollerskates.

EasyJet, the budget airline, has announced plans to fly to Israel with six flights a week between Luton and Tel Aviv, launching on November 2.

The Luton-based airline is offering single fares from £71.98 and return fares from £102.98, including all taxes. It will also cost £8 each way to check in a bag. Flights will depart daily, except Friday and have now been launched on the firm's website, where hotels are also on offer from £80 per night.

Andy Harrison, easyJet’s chief executive, described the launch as “a major breakthrough”.

As far as the eye can see, there is sand. Somewhere over the horizon to the south west, there is Egypt; Gaza is close by, too. But one can see no landmarks, no signposts.

And then you turn on your heel and you see familiar net-covered structures, signifying Israeli agri-tech. And right here, in the middle of this vast Negev nothingness, a group of people are growing food in the sand.

The Israel Government Tourist Office in London is once again under investigation by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority for an advertisement promoting holidays to Israel.

The latest complaint is over a poster which features a map of Israel that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights, beneath the slogan “Experience Israel”. The poster is part of a £40,000 IGTO Think.Israel campaign.

The complaint was lodged with the advertising watchdog last Friday by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The Sheraton Hotel in Tiberias on the shores of Galilee has been given a special award by the Israel Tour Guides Association. The guides have given the hotel a Certificate of Appreciation for improving the image of Israel for tourists, and for the quality of service and the warmth of their welcome. Bookable through Israel specialist operators or with Sheraton (www.sheraton.co.il/english; 800 325 35353)

Hundreds of people stood in the sunshine last Friday at a special ceremony held to honour David Lewis, the British Jew who helped transform the formerly sleepy southern town of Eilat into the now thriving Israeli resort.

To mark his contribution, the town chose the 60th annual Eilat Day celebrations to name a new walkway the David Lewis Promenade.