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Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Practical information Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

 
 
Area : 8155  sq.mi - Population 6200000 hab.
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Our expert Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

map

map Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Weather

  • Tel Aviv  29°C 30°C 34°C 31°C
  • Jerusalem  25°C 26°C 30°C 28°C
  • Haifa  27°C 27°C 31°C 29°C
  • Eilat  41°C 40°C 41°C 42°C
  • Ovda  36°C 36°C 38°C 37°C

Practical information Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

superficie

Area

8155  sq.mi
vol

Flights

London-Tel Aviv: approximately 6 hrs and 30 mins Jerusalem is 2,208 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

6200000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

To get to Tel-Aviv from Ben Gurion airport, take the bus no. 475 (14 shekels, £2.30) which goes all around the hotels. A train service has also just been set up linking Ben Gourion airport to the city centre of Tel-Aviv. Shared taxis (sherouts) also offer a shuttle service for a few shekels. In Tel-Aviv, you will find buses and shared taxis going to Jerusalem and all other points of the country (Haïfa, Tiberias, Beersheba, Eilat...). There are also trains, which mainly serve Jerusalem, Haïfa and Akko (Saint John of Acre).

Latest news: The new ultra modern terminal of Ben Gourion airport in Tel-Aviv has been operational since 2nd November 2004. It can take 12 million passengers in a year.

securite

Security

The West Bank and the Gaza strip are today part of what is called the Palestinian Territories. Since the Oslo Agreements (1993), most of the Gaza strip, Jericho and the main cities of the West Bank have become somewhat autonomous and can thus be visited. However, owing to the current confrontations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, you are strongly advised against visiting the area.
In the major cities, particularly in Jerusalem, the threats of possible attacks should be a warning to every visitor to avoid crowds and public transport and to keep abreast of safety measures provided locally.

Latest news: Official Israeli and Palestinian sources reported that Israel intends to relax some limitations in relation to the passage of tourists between Bethlehem and Jerusalem which has been in force for almost four years now. The Israeli television reported that the Israeli Minister of Tourism and his Palestinian counterpart have signed a cooperation agreement to relaunch tourism in the region.

The FCO (Foriegn & Commonwealth Office) currently advises against all travel to Gaza (including the waters off Gaza). Palestinian attacks from within Gaza and Israeli air strikes and military incursions continue.

langue

Languages

The official languages are modern Hebrew and Arabic. English is also widely spoken, as well as French and Russian.
formalites

Requirements

Passport valid for 6 months after the return date. If you are planning on visiting another Arab country (other than Egypt and Jordan), you have to ask at customs to have the Israeli stamp put on your entry authorisation and not on your passport. This is done during the customs check, upon arrival in the territory.
religion

Religion

The Jewish population is equitably represented by the Ashkenazi from Europe and the Sephardi from the Mediterranean Basin. The Jews from former USSR represent 10% of the Israeli population. The Jewish State also has close to one million Arab citizens (including 80,000 Druze) and Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank number about two and a half million. Israeli Arabs and Palestinians are 95% Muslim (sunnites) and 5% Christian.
monnaie

Currency

The Israeli currency is the Shekel (ILS). International credit cards (Visa, American Express, Eurocard, etc.) are widely used and there are many ATM machines in the main towns and at the airports. Travellers cheques (in Pounds or Dollars) can be exchanged in all banks, though many shops will also accept foreign currencies (Dollars and Pounds). Banks are open from Sunday to Thursday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and from 4:00pm to 5:30pm and are closed on Wednesdays, Friday afternoons and Saturdays.
transports

Local transportation

A rented car is the best means of visiting Israel, given the country's small surface area and excellent road network. However, there is a slight drawback: road accidents are frequent and Israelis drive with a lot of stress, especially in the cities. There are several car rentals at Ben Gourion airport itself and generally you just need to be above 21 years of age and have had a driving license for at least a year. By renting a car from the UK, the prices are more interesting and if you intend to visit the Occupied Territories, you are advised to rent a car with a blue number plate, as yellow number plates (Israeli) are not always welcome. The bus is an ideal low cost means of transport (if you have a student identity card, you get a 10% discount). Interurban lines serve the whole country, though some tourist sites are still poorly served.The Israbus pass, valid for one to four weeks, seems more profitable if you have several stopovers, but if you're seeking something more comfortable and for virtually the same cost, shared taxis (sherouts) take you to the main cities. They can take up to seven passengers and they follow a set route; if you're inside Jerusalem, go for the sherout rather than the bus.
sante

Health

No particular vaccine is required, but be sure to be up to date with your vaccination shots against hepatitises A and B. If you are going to the Negev Desert or the Dead Sea, take all the necessary precautions to avoid the risk of dehydration, sunstroke and sunburn. The tap water is clean and completely safe to drink.
electricite

Electricity

Voltage is 220 V. An adapter is unnecessary.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

The country receives 2 million tourists a year.
taxe

Taxes and tips

Service is not included in restaurants, you should leave a tip that is equivalent to 10 % of the bill. It is not custom to leave a tip for taxi drivers.
telephone

Telephone

To call Israel from the UK, dial: 00 972 + 1 digit region code, without 0 (Jerusalem and Bethlehem: 02; Eilat: 07; Haifa :04; Tel-Aviv: 03; Tiberias and Nazareth: 06) + number of your correspondent (6 or 7 digits).
To call the UK from Israel, dial: 00 +44 + number of your correspondent.