ISRAEL — If the results of a recent Durex survey is anything close to accurate, it’s a good thing that Israel is planning to host its first-ever sex festival – cuz it sounds like its citizens could use a few tips, pointers, and reassurances when it comes to sex. Fortunately for the frustrated and confused, sex toys, strip shows, and fetish presentations will await those who attend the “Sextival” being dreamed up by 32-year-old former model Nitzan Kirshenboim to be held in Jerusalem next year.

The mother of two and unrepentant sex toy user insisted to Israeli portal site Ynetnews.com that “I’m actually a real nerd. I’m just the neighbor’s daughter who decided to take the initiative and say ‘Guys, we wall have sex and we all enjoy it. Why not get it out in the open?”

Out in the open is precisely where Kirshenboim’s efforts will take sexuality, thanks to the help of Playboy Israel, the Ego Channel, and Sex Style retail chain. Due to the generosity of Playboy’s pater familia, Hugh Hefner, a lucky few raffle prize winners will even be able to party at the infamous Playboy Mansion.

Although Kirshenboim my not fully realize the implications of her promise, she assures potential attendees that “The Sextival will showcase the wildest things your imagination can come up with.” To illustrate her point, she observed that some people have a fetish for women with prominent noses – and such fetishes will be indulged during her Sextival.

The three-day event will take place from February 5th – 7th, 2008 at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port.

“Even those into bondage will find very interesting stuff there,” Kirshenboim insists.

This could be excellent news for Israelis, given that a recent Durex survey indicated that as many as 32-percent of them are not as fond of sex as Kirsheboim thinks they are.

Although only 40-percent of those queried admitted to having ever used a sex toy, 61-percent of the total number surveyed valiantly have sex at least once a week, with another 20-percent abstaining entirely. Age seems to be a strong indicator of adventure, with 48-percent of those younger than 46 indicating familiarity with sex toys and only 30-percent of those older claiming the same knowledge. Of those married, 65-percent said they’d never used a sex toy and 53-percent of singles were equally as innocent of their use.

Ironically, Israeli men confessed to more dissatisfaction with the sexual status quo than did women. Only 28-percent of Israeli women involved with the project felt their sex lives were less than satisfactory, whereas 37-percent of men wished for more. Those most disappointed about the sex in their lives were those between the ages of 31 and 45, with satisfaction increasing afterwards – especially for the married respondents. Although a quarter of all people who live with their sex partners reported being unhappy with their situation, 90-percent of those who had been with the same person for less than a year thought things were great.