Palestine Travel Forum

Hi guys, I'm planning a trip back to Suriye and Jordan next month and also want to include the Palestine Authority, I plan to cross the border at Jordan. I have a venue in mind for accommodation there, Bustan Qaraaqa,a permaculture farm/hostel just outside Bethelem, (sourced via Hostelworld and Hostelbookers etc.,), it looks great!! has anyone visited and stayed there?? I hope to have local assistance at the crossing between Jordan and Palestine,and maybe in situ, if not, are there any problems I should now about?? I am a British Citzien, (but live in Istanbul), I have a British Passport, what about the stamp??? I've been told that I can ask the officials to stamp a piece of paper?? or is that just for visitors to Israel?? any advice/helpful hints etc., regarding travelling around the Authority etc., would be great.

Thanks in advance

Georgie

You have a basic misconception. In order to reach the Palestinian Authority (PA) areas, you must go through Israel passport control - that is, formally enter Israel. It's exactly the same procedure whether you enter via the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge directly into the West Bank area (*not* directly into the PA area) as you plan, or Ben Gurion Internation Airport near Tel Aviv or any of the other Jordanian or Egyptian border crossings. There is no separate/different entry to PA areas. You de facto enter Israel. Nothing else is needed to proceed to the PA areas afterwards - just your passport for identification purposes only.

You can ask the Israeli authorities to stamp the separate piece of paper - and they usually do if asked before handing over your passport. However, it is never 100% guaranteed.

Ramot's answer is correct.

One addition - be aware that if you get a stamp on the Jordanian side of the border (with Israel) you will not be permitted to return via Syria. They do check for that.

Thank you!!!

You can always ask the Israeli border guards to stamp on a separate piece of paper, they usuallky agree but it's not always guaranteed. But you also need to make sure you do not have a stamp of one of the border towns with Israel, such as Taba (Egypt) or the Allenby bridge (Jordan). As far as I know, in Taba they do stamp on a separate piece of paper but NOT on the Jordan Allenby bridge. Meaning you;d need to fly from Amman to make sure you passport does not show you entered Israel.

Once in Israel, if you go to the West Bnak there is no stamping involed, they'll just check your passport and that's it.