For anyone moving to Israel, either permanently or temporarily, not knowing the language or being accustomed to the culture can be very frustrating. Imagine, then - not that you probably have to - the frustration experienced by foreign lesbians and bis, who not only have to become familiar with the Israeli culture at large, but also with the unique Israeli 'gay scene', which, in many respects, is bound to be different to the one 'back home'. In July of 1999, IFL was established for the express purpose of helping foreign lesbians and bis in Israel to not only adjust to their new surroundings, but also to feel totally comfortable therein.

Ever since IFL was established, we have been uniting the Israeli lesbian and bi community with foreign lesbians and bis staying in Israel for various periods of time or even indefinitely through organizing a wide range of activities. Our meetings, for example, which concentrate on topics of interest to lesbians and bi-women, have covered issues such as picking up, dating women of different ages, coming out, and living in Israel, amongst others. As for our cultural events, we have constantly attempted to present our cultural background in an interesting and enjoyable way, such as through culture cooking evenings, literature and video nights, lectures, workshops, and, of course, our annual BBQ.

One of the major goals of IFL is to ensure that lesbians and bi-women from all over Israel, whether local or foreign, have an opportunity to take part in our activities. Equally as important is our goal of making our existence known to women who are coming to Israel, either to visit or to live, in the hope that, armed with the knowledge that an organization such as ours exists and the support of our members, they will feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.