New York, NY- September 4, 2008: The countdown has begun to the largest and arguably most important rock concert in Israel’s 60 years – former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney will rock Tel Aviv in a three-hour, open-air concert in Hayarkon Park on September 25, 2008. The concert, which was finally announced last week after months of speculation and negotiations, promises to be the most complex production ever seen in Israel, at an estimated cost of approximately US $8.3 million and with a capacity crowd of 70,000.

Israel Ministry of Tourism, North America According to a press release issued by the producers, Paul McCartney holds true to the principles of friendship – loyalty and respect – and the ‘Friendship First’ Concert, as it has been dubbed, will be an opportunity for people to celebrate these values whilst having a memorable night of fun and rock ‘n’ roll. “I’ve heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another,” said McCartney. “We are planning to have a great time and a great evening. We can’t wait to get out there and rock.”

12,000 tickets were sold in the first 12 hours, with sales beginning at midnight on Tuesday. Tickets range in price from US $136 on the grass to US $1,389 for the VIP enclosure. Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park is one of the largest outdoor venues in Israel and has hosted international stars such as Elton John and Michael Jackson. The venue is also used for the very popular Opera in the Park series, a free annual performance by the Israeli Opera concert, which attracts the 70,000 capacity crowd.

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