(JTA) — The rescued Chilean miners have accepted Israel’s invitation to visit on an all-expense-paid trip — if their families can join them.
The 33 miners want to be accompanied on the trip by 70 of their family members, including children, grandchildren and mothers. One of the miners has asked to bring his mistress as well as his wife, according to reports.
The miners have said they will not come to Israel without their family members, Ynet reported, citing Israel’s ambassador to Chile, David Dadon.
The Tourism Minister’s Office is considering whether to fund the trip for all of the miner’s relatives, according to Ynet.
Two weeks ago, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov invited the miners, who were trapped in a mine in Chile for three months, to come to Israel over Christmas for a weeklong, fully paid trip to see sites in the Holy Land.
"Your bravery and strength of spirit, your great faith that helped you survive so long in the bowels of the earth, was an inspiration to us all," Misezhnikov’s invitation said. "It would be a great honor for us to welcome you as our guests in the Holy Land.
"This December, Christians around the world — and here in the Land of Jesus — will celebrate Christmas. During that time we welcome tens of thousands of pilgrims, and we would be pleased to offer you this uplifting and extraordinary experience as our guests."
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