Israel

The current map as of 04/04/2009. The implementation can be found here

Israel is a small country, divided between nine graticules from (29,34) to (33,35). In order to unite the few Israeli xkcd fans, a different algorithm a different algorithm is used. Instead of the regular graticule system, the entire state of Israel is defined by a polygon so that all Israelis share the same meeting point. In addition, red zones define areas that are deemed too dangerous to access. In order to calculate safe points that fall within the green zone, but outside of the red zones, the new algorithm uses the previous day's exchange rates, as issued by the Bank of Israel.

An implementation of the algorithm can be found here

Israeli Geohashers are encouraged to edit the red zones to help other geohashers avoid IDF fire zones, hostile settlements, etc.

Problems with the "normal" algorithm

Using the previous algorithm, each graticule in Israel has its own problems: some are almost entirely in the Mediterranean Sea, others include much of the disputed territories, and still others contain a truly staggering amount of desert. Some even contain all three. Almost all of them include some area in neighboring countries of varying degrees of unfriendliness.

Most Recent Hashes

• March 28: The Beersheba point is about half a kilometer outside of Ze'elim. The Haifa East point is just a couple of meters off of route 90, but possibly in an unsafe area.
• March 29: The Beersheba point is in the middle of some agricultural land east of route 6 south of Kfar Menachem.
• March 30: The only reachable hashpoint is in the Haifa East graticule, southwest of Jat, but the safety level of the area is unknown.
• March 31: The Tel Aviv hashpoint is in a small wooded area in the town of Bnei Tsiyon. The Beersheba hashpoint may be more difficult: it's in the desert just outside Abu Quwaydar al'Afawi, east of Beersheba.
• April 1: The Jerusalem graticule point is about 300 meters off of route 90 north of the Dead Sea. Word has it that this is at least 300m below sea level, making it an extremely difficult to beat Low Geohash if someone were to go. Alternatively, the Haifa East graticule lands in a field outside of Arbel, Israel.
• April 2: Unless you're in the mood to go traipsing through the desert, the only reachable hash point is just outside of Nazareth in the Haifa East graticule.
• April 3: Again with the desert! The Haifa East graticule point is near Imanuel, but closer to the Palestinian village of Jinsafut and probably unsafe.

Past expeditions in Israel

• May 28, 2008: Haifa East graticule point was unsuccessfully reached by Ynor
• July 28, 2008: Alternative location cheat in Jerusalem by Lady Pennywhistle.
• March 17, 2009: Yerushalmi and his wife successfully reached the Beersheba graticule's hash point in Kfar Truman.

Graticules and Participants

Those are the geohash graticules in Israel, plus current users:

• Jerusalem, Israel
  • Lady Pennywhistle lives in French Hill, Jerusalem
  • Yerushalmi and his wife
• Tel-Aviv (Goosh Dan), Israel
  • Dor
  • Vyath
  • Improbable
  • Eyal
  • Bryan A (Moving to this graticule in July)
  • Avish
  • pseudoDust
• Haifa East, Israel
  • Ynor
  • Pr0nto
• Beersheba, Israel

Any other users: Don't just lurk! Add yourselves to the wiki pages, so we can know who's participating and try to arrange meetups!

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• An implementation of the algorithm
• Hebrew explanation of an older algorithm