Tel Aviv (Hebrew: ?? ?????, Arabic: ?? ????) is the second largest city in Israel (after Jerusalem ), and the largest metropolitan area. It is on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km north-west of Jerusalem and some 100 km south of Haifa . The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo (?? ????-???), and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Yafo (English: Jaffa, Arabic: ???? Yafa), to the south of the new city center, in addition to many other neighboring cities. Tel Aviv is home to most foreign embassies. Tel Aviv is a rapidly growing city in the midst of an exciting transition from medium-sized urban center to bustling international metropolis. Its booming population, energy, edginess and 24-hour life style give the city a cosmopolitan flair comparable to few other cities in this part of the world.