Kiryat Yam is a fairly un-notable town on Israel’s Mediterranean Coastline just north of the city of Haifa. Its not somewhere that would ordinarily appear on any tourists itinerary but following the alleged sighting of a mermaid there last year, the mayor is now offering a $1 million reward to any tourist who can prove its existence.

It is about as far from Aboriginal Australia as you will get, held at a kibbutz not far from Tel Aviv to coincide with the Jewish holiday, Sukkot. Its the sixth annual Israeli Didgeridoo Festival.

Several episodes of the hit animated series The Simpsons have dealt with Jewish issues, and even the Middle East conflict over the years. However, it wasn’t until the series’ 21rst season that Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie will finally visit Israel and meet a bitter and angry Israeli tour guide, played by Sacha Baron Cohen (whose characters Bruno and Borat have made him a household name.)

Israel might be the Holy Land, famed for its Biblical miracles but those stories generally took place thousands of years ago. Now, however, sightings of a mermaid is causing a stirr in the Bay of Haifa and there is a $1 million prize to anyone who proves they’ve seen it…