The History of ICC Jerusalem

Born for Greatness

The International Convention Center in Jerusalem, or Binyanei Ha’uma (Hebrew: the Nation’s Buildings) as it was originally named, was established in 1950 as part of a plan for a government campus in nearby Givat Ram in Jerusalem. ICC Jerusalem was founded by the Jewish Agency, the Jewish National Fund, and the Jerusalem Economic Development Company, which joined forces in building a conference center that would symbolize the sovereignty of the young State of Israel and become a gathering point for the Jewish people.

ICC Jerusalem was planned to be the official seat of the Zionist Congress, which since its establishment roamed among various European cities in the lack of a permanent residence. Indeed, even before construction was completed, the 23rd Zionist Congress convened at ICC Jerusalem, the first to be held in the State of Israel.

The founders of ICC Jerusalem designated the building for greatness: it was to be designed as a center for international conferences and congresses, art exhibitions and assemblies of science and wisdom. They sought to illustrate to the citizens of Israel, the Jews of the Diaspora and the nations of the world the role that Jerusalem fulfills in Jewish life and the contribution of the Jewish people to the global civilization and culture.

To this day, more than 65 years later, the International Convention Center in Jerusalem is considered as the most important and reputable conference center in Israel. The International Convention Center continues to be the home of the Zionist Congress with international and national conferences and cultural and arts events taking place there as foreseen by its proponents.

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Getting at ICC

The International Convention Center – Binyanei Hauma, is located on the entrance to Jerusalem, within a short car drive from Tel Aviv and even shorter from the Ben Gurion International Airport. It is accessible from roads No. 1, No. 6 (a toll road), and No. 443. As such, it is highly accessible from any direction. The Center is a few minutes-walk from the Railway Station, the Light Train station, and the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

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