Tips for Traveling to Hebron, Palestine: As a soon to be member of the Engage in Palestine team, you may be asking yourself, “how do I get to Hebron, Palestine,” and “how difficult is travel between Palestine and Israel?” Do not fret, for all the answers to these questions can be found here. The Engage in Palestine/the Excellence Center prides itself in providing its volunteers, interns and students with easy and reliable methods to enter Israel and Palestine.
In addition, as a volunteer, intern, or student with the Engage in Palestine you will have the opportunity to travel throughout Palestine and Israel with ease. All international participants have two days off per week, which is plenty of time to organize day trips to Hebron’s many neighboring cities – like Ramallah, Jericho, Nablus, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Ako and Bethlehem to name a few.
As a foreigner, it is often easier to travel throughout Palestine and Israel then for Palestinian and Israeli nationals. Challenges can arise at times because of the constant shifting political situation between Palestine and Israel. However, the Engage in Palestine has all the necessary resources you will need to travel to, and between Palestine and Israel with ease and security.
Traveling to Hebron, Palestine
You do not Need Two Visas to Travel to Palestine and Israel
Participants from the Americas, Australia and Europe will not need to fill out any kind of specialized form when traveling to Israel and Palestine, but rather will simply receive a tourist visa once they arrive in Israel. This same tourist visa will also be sufficient to travel throughout the Palestinian West Bank.
For participants arriving from Asia and Africa, it may be necessary to fill out a tourist visa form before arriving in Israel. In addition, participants may face extra questioning upon their arrival. However, do not worry, be honest about your intentions and the organization you are partnered with, and you will be granted entry.
Which Airport Should I Fly Into?
Israeli has control over Palestinian borders, so there are currently no airports within Palestine – this means that the only way to enter Palestine is through Israel.
The easiest way to get to the West Bank is through Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Once arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, expect long lines, frequent security checks, and many questions regarding your stay in Palestine. However, as previously stated, be honest about your intentions and your service with the Engage in Palestine and you will be just fine.
Once Landed, How do I get to Hebron?
For additional information on how to exactly get from the Ben Gurion Airport to the Excellence Center, please follow this link: https://excellencenter.org/how-to-get-to-hebron-palestine/
Traveling Throughout Palestine and Israel
Public Transportation in Palestine and Israel
Traveling throughout Palestine is easy and convenient, for travel times from one city to another are quite short. For example, getting from Hebron to Jerusalem will take roughly 1 hour to 1.5 hours, as well as a quick 1 hour taxi ride to the South Western Bank.
When traveling between cities in Palestine, we recommend using a shared taxi service called Shuret. These shared taxi services are an inexpensive way to travel from city to city within Palestine. There is no need to book a Shuret in advance since all taxis leave Hebron once they are full. Taxis begin running from early morning to around nine o’clock in the evening. There are also other public transportation services available, such as a bus service that reliably runs from city to city.
Inexpensive, Easy, and Safe
Traveling throughout Palestine is inexpensive, easy, and safe. To travel from Hebron to neighboring cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem via Taxi will cost on average $13 USD. Be sure to ask a local what the prices should be for varying locations throughout Hebron. Taxi services are widely available throughout every city in Palestine, and make traveling affordable, as well as easy.
Further, traveling throughout Hebron and the neighboring cities of Palestine and Israel is safe for internationals. When visiting a new city in Palestine or Israel, we recommend traveling with a small group of volunteers, students or interns – for even though an unfriendly encounter is unlikely, it is always safer – and more fun – to travel in groups!
However, the vast majority of Palestinains will be friendly and eager to assist should you need it. Many Palestinians pride themselves on a culture of hospitality and openness, something all Center participants will experience during their time in Palestine.
Traveling as a Woman
When traveling as a woman throughout Palestine, it is important to be mindful of Muslim attitudes towards dress and customs. For example, when taking buses, it will be expected that all women occupy seats towards the rear of the bus. However, Palestine’s conservative attitudes toward women also mean that they are greatly respected and treated with dignity.
One previous volunteer remarked, “as for what comes to traveling as a woman, I felt much safer than for example in Latin America. Hebron is a conservative city, which means there is a certain culture of respect towards women. Sure I have heard occasional whistles after me but that’s about it.”
Maps on Your Phone
The best way to navigate through Palestine and Hebron is the mobile app maps.me. It is likely that once you arrive in Palestine you will not have internet service, or will be charged ridiculously high rates from your national provider. Maps.me allows you to download detailed maps of various cities to your cell phone, and will be a great aid in helping you navigate throughout Palestine.
Traveling Tips
Likely Questions at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv)
If you are stopped for further questioning by Israeli airport security, remain patient, friendly and calm. It is not unusual for internationals heading to Palestine to be stopped for further questioning. When asked questions, be honest in your responses and carry the Excellence Center’s invitation of service with you. In extreme examples, the process of questioning can take over 3 hours – if you are involved in one of these rare cases, remember to be patient and calm. You are completely entitled to your stay in Hebron and so long as you remain truthful, you will be granted a visa.
Often asked security questions include:
- Why you would want to visit the Palestinian Autonomous Territories?
- If you have any connections to Muslims and or a Muslim background?
- Do you know any Israeli people?
- Why are you visiting Israel and not another country?
- Some details about your life, etc.
In certain instances, security may repeat these questions 5 to 10 times. This will feel intimidating and it is designed to be as such, but just remember, you have done nothing wrong and are traveling to Palestine for humanitarian/educational purposes.Tell the truth, don’t fabricate, embellish or change your answers. If you are honest and keep this advice in mind, you will be fine.
The security questions can seem intrusive and worrying but the beauty, hospitality and wonders of Palestine are well worth any temporary unpleasantness!
If you are a Younger Traveler (18-35)
More often than not, when an Israeli security official stops a traveler for questioning, that traveler will be between the ages of 18 and 35. The reason for this is because Israeli officials view younger people as more susceptible to political radicalism and are extra wary as a consequence. If you are stopped by Israeli security, remember that you are a volunteer/student, and that what the security officials are doing is simply part of their job.
In order to avoid the likelihood of being stopped by Israeli security, it is best to keep the following in mind. First, avoid discussing on the plane that you are intending to travel into Palestine as most people on the plane are likely to be Israeli and this may arouse suspicion. Further, don’t mention your intentions to travel to Palestine to regular civilians in Ben Gurion Airport and only communicate your intentions to airport officials. These precautions are simply to avoid arousing suspicion and to make the travel process as smooth as possible.
Laptops, Computers, and Cell Phones
In extremely rare instances, very extremely, Israeli security officials may ask to screen your electronic devices for any trace of politically sensitive or extremist material. In case this is requested, it is best to erase all political sensitive topics from your laptops and computers. This includes videos, photos, social media posts or anything that can be viewed as overtly political. Your saved documents and communications with the Excellence Center are good to keep and in fact may help your case.
The best way to make it through security effectively is to remember the 3 Cs: be Calm, Compliant, and Cooperative. If you can keep these in mind when being questioned by Israeli security, you will be fine.
It is a good idea to have a complete criteria of your trip, as well as where you intend to stay, your arrival and departure dates, as well as forms certifying your intentions in Palestine.
It is important to remember that the previously listed examples are all very extreme and rare cases, and in all likelihood you will make it through Tel Aviv airport security without a problem.
A Visitor’s Experience
Tara, a visitor from the UK came to Palestine in February 2020 and traveled through most of the West Bank. She says: “I had previously traveled to several Middle Eastern countries and I was anxious about the fact that stamps from places such as Jordan and the UAE might negatively affect my chance of being accepted upon my arrival at Ben Gurion. I was also keen not to receive an Israeli visa stamp in my passport in case this meant that I would not be able to visit other Arab countries in the future. I need not have worried as there was no problem at all. I did not have my passport stamped, instead I was given the Israeli visa on a blue slip of paper, as were all the other members of the group traveling with me. I was granted entry by an Israeli border official after answering two simple questions, the first being about where I would be staying and the second question asked was enquiring as to my job title. Our party of five included three people who were Muslim, two of them were British-Pakistanis and the other was of British-Turkish origins. We thought that it was likely that the Israeli security forces would stop and question them. These three travelers did indeed get selected for more in depth questioning by the Israeli security staff. They were questioned for almost three hours but were eventually released, completely unharmed, permitted entry and we were able to continue our journey together to the West Bank.
The return journey elicited more in depth questioning – such as why I visited Jordan, who I knew there, when I last spoke to them and what about- but I answered all the questions calmly and truthfully and was allowed to go on my way. I kept my passport and visa slip with me at all times during my trip to Palestine as it was often necessary to show both of these documents at the various checkpoints. There were never any problems for me in gaining access to anywhere in the West Bank.”
Final Remarks
The only way to enter Palestine is via Israel, with Israel controlling all of Palestine’s borders and visa processes. You may face questioning as a foreigner, but again don’t worry, for as long as you are honest and patient, you will be just fine. The Engage in Palestine/The Excellence Center has hosted over 1000 volunteers, interns and students from around the world and in 99+ percent of cases, they are granted 3 month visas.
Journeying to Hebron, Palestine is often the most exciting travel experience in many people’s lives – even for seasoned travelers. The initial prospect of traveling to Palestine can be intimidating, but please be assured that Engage in Palestine will provide you with all the resources you need to travel to and throughout Palestine and Israel in a safe and efficient manner.