Tourists in Israel are set to benefit from a new 24 hour telephone hotline to help them with their stay.

The Tourphone initiative from the Israel Ministry of Tourism will provide tourists with information from places to visit to directions as well as help in emergencies.

Tourists can dial the special number *3888 for any telephone and will be informed of the new service upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport.

As Israeli city Tel Aviv gears up to its 100th anniversary in 2009, Jewtastic can reveal that local government bosses have set their sights on Duran Duran to perform a headlining concert as well as applying for permission to use the group’s instrumental song Tel Aviv as a theme for the city.

According to a Tel Aviv Municipality city insider, Duran Duran have emerged as the top act for a celebrate Tel Aviv concert being planned in 2009.

Punk pioneer Malcolm McLaren is creating a Broadway musical based on the life of late fashion designer Christian Dior.

The one-time Sex Pistols manager is in talks with Disney to fund the production, which follows the life of the clothing mogul, who died in 1957.

He revealed; “The people in Disney’s theatre department are quite brilliant. They’ve helped focus me. And, to be frank, they were the only people who understood the material.”

International upscale Japanese restaurant Nobu, which announced plans for a hotel and apartments in Tel Aviv last month at an A-list attended celebrity event, has appointed a London-based agent to handle sales.

Premier Resorts will represent The Nobu Hotel and Residences which will open in 2010 on the Herzliya Marina. Prices start from £317,000 for a studio apartment in the 225 room development which also offers 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and penthouses.