Palestine Travel Forum

Hi There

I’m travelling to Palestine for the first time alone. I’m a young lady and will be going to do some charity work in Bethlehem. I will be there for a few weeks. I have arranged to stay with an organisation who im at full ease with.
My concerns:
I am travelling to Tel Aviv on a UK passport, I am a British citizen but of Indian origin. I have been told many things about what to expect and im quite nervous now. Is it true once you arrive at the airport everyone is questioned? Also that they have your files to hand so they basically know everything about you. That they can deport you if your answers don’t match what is on file? How intense is the questioning?

The other thing is I will be having a taxi collecting me from the airport to the base. Going from Tel Aviv to Bethlehem are there check points etc?

I know these questions sound silly but going alone to the Middle East esp. to Israel/Palestine if I know what to expect I think it will really help.

Any help of information would be appreciated

Many thanks

On arrival you can expect detailed questioning about what you will be doing, especially if you are planning on working with a Palestinian origanisation.
Be honest and forthcoming with any information they ask of you. If you are and if your intentions are honourable they will let you in. If they aren't statisfied about your stay they will refuse you entry.

When going to Bethlehem there is a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city. Normally Israeli taxis cannot go beyond this point, so you may have to change taxis there.

Nothing silly about your questions. It is natural to be nervous.

Your racial origin is unimportant. Your passport, your destination and the reason for the destination are what is considered.

As noted above. Be honest, be open and you have nothing to worry about.

Yes, everyone is asked questions on arrival - even Israelis.

Keep your passport on you at all times. You will also need it to cross the check point into Bethlehem.

I am a Turkish citizen and travelled to almost all Palestinian cities last year. On the airport I was questioned but the questioning was not very intense and they were very polite.

To go to Bethlehem you need to take a taxi but the driver has to be an Arab or Druze. Passing the checkpoint to enter the Palestinian side is very easy and you may even not notice. But to come back to Israeli side it may take some time to pass the checkpoint.

By the way from airport to Bethlehem, taxi is quite expensive. You can take bus to Jerusalem and take taxi.

Although most of the people who have not been in this region have difficulty in understanding this. Believe me, Israel and Palestine are very secure countries.

Have a nice trip.

<<Although most of the people who have not been in this region have difficulty in understanding this. Believe me, Israel and Palestine are very secure countries.>>

Thank you mitata. You are the only non-Israeli that I know that understands this fact. It is so hard to explain it to people - they just don't believe it.

<<By the way from airport to Bethlehem, taxi is quite expensive. You can take bus to Jerusalem and take taxi. >>

Sorry to say that the bus has changed and is no longer so convenient. It now requires two buses and the change from one to the other is not in a convenient spot.

But you are absolutely correct about the rates.

Today the best is to take the Nesher sherut (group taxi) to Damascus Gate and get a taxi there to Bethlehem.

UnaS, Thank you for correcting me.

My point is if I go to any country that I am not familiar the general point of view, in first two hours is very important and inconvenient transportation means help me to understand the country very well and see the locals. In Israel it is very important especially to get used to the security concepts. It is like a shock treatment &#61514;

It took me two hours to go from airport to Jerusalem by bus. I waited 15 minutes in an bus stop to take the another one. I scared a bit. But after two hours inconvenient travel everything was ok and there is nothing strange.

Perhaps you've already gone on your trip now, but others could possibly benefit. Look, the questioning can be extremely intense and go on and on, and they may actually put you and your luggage through another screening. They may ask you all about your background, travels, activities on travel -- and the correct answer is that you don't know any "people" or have any "friends" in the West Bank or Gaza -- hoping you will understand my strange phrasing here. You should carry a letter of invitation with a phone number from the charity, and it might be wise to say you are going to Jerusalem and from there to Bethlehem. It might also be best to ask the charity how they advise coming; they might have a driver they work with who could come and pick you up, or at least get you from the sherut (shared van) stop mentioned in Jerusalem.

I just posted, but I have a bit more to say. Being Indian is not the issue - but if that means they believe you appear to be Arab or Muslim,you WILL be questioned more sharply. It can be awful. Just be calm - they are following their security protocol. No, they really don't know everything about you, but the information kept concerns entries, exits. When you depart, you may also have a lengthy interrogation, and they might take away hair dryers, cameras (they will be sent back to you) - lately, my laptop has been OK, but they became ballistic over a PASSIA diary that I was carrying- which has the best info. on the West Bank.

Well yes, i can understand security becoming especially alert about PASSIA:
http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1105

If you don't know, or are unsure of, what Hamas is you can read this:
http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm

When a militant group swears that its objective is the destruction of a country, it is natural for that country to wonder why a visitor is carrying a book published by them...

Just how intense the questioning can become depends on the person and their objectives in visiting. Most visitors have few problems.

Matita -

Thanks for that explanation. Now I understand you better.
When I land in a new country I prefer to walk to get to know the local atmospheere and the people, but I can see how a long, slow, local bus can also help with that.

I'm sorry that you were scared at first. It is a sad fact that such security is necessary here, but not at all threatening. Good that you realized that. Hope that you had a good visit.

I enjoyed my visit to Turkey very much.

Hi

Many thanks for all the tips guys, esp Zuhur. I feel alot more at ease now. I will be off end of Oct. I have decided though it may be expensive the safest way to get to the orpanage will be to get a taxi. I have spoken to the agency and they will be sending a taxi for me.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again!

The PASSIA diary is carried by every other expat living in Jerusalem. It contains all the useful information and contacts on international and local organizations in the Occupied Palestinian territories. I've even seen Americain diplomats carrying it!
The Website www.militantislammonitor.org is not a reliable source of information, but a site run by people with their own ideology and agenda.

It does not matter whether you're of Indian origin, except if you have a name that looks Muslim.

I'd suggest you ask the organization if they advise you to tell security officers at Ben Gurion that you're going to Bethleem, or not.

Don't worry about security officers, they ask pretty stupid questions which sometimes border on harassment (last month they asked a European diplomat who he was asking sex with... he did not like it) but they do it for everyone.

Allegraf
It would be easier to accept your allegations as true if you identified yourself a bit - at least your country of origin?

I'm from Rome, if that matters to you.

Your saying that the PASSIA diary is some terrorist stuff is quite funny. Honestly, go to any meeting in Jerusalem involving diplomats or staff of international organizations or the UN, at least a third of people attending have one! It's just a compilation of useful numbers for local and international NGOs / UN / ministries operating in the West Bank. The only danger of it is that it's quite heavy, so I guess you can be harmed if it falls on your foot.

Well, if you don't like the Militant Muslim Monitor, how about the NGO Monitor?
Or is that too, just prejudiced?

http://ngo-monitor.org/article/palestinian_academic_society_for_the_study_of_international_affairs_passia_

It will be so easy to get to Bethlehem by bus or taxi. As for arriving at the airport, I doubt if you will be questioned at all. Now when you arrive at your departing airport for Tel Aviv, that's when you will be questioned. I have landed at Tel Aviv three times in the last four years and never once was questioned. All my questions happened at my departure points. London, Istanbul and New York. When you leave Israel you might get the 2nd degree -- but what are they going to do -- keep you there? I doubt it. Just be polite and answer all their questions honestly. I traveled through the West Bank twice and each time it was easy. You will, however, be surprised by the seemingly prosperity that I encountered -- even in the refugee camp in Bethlehem. It felt, and was, very safe. Have a great trip.

Honestly.. thge "NGO Monitor" is an extreme right-wing Israeli Website which has not the slightest credibility.
Would be happy to believe you if you were to quote me sources from a respectable international body.

Anonymous denigration is so common in life. Like a virus on an internet site.

Guy, honestly, the websites you're quoting are notoriously run by extreme right wing Israelis and do not have even an ounce of credibility beyond this very specific and limited audience. Only they believr that Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch are evil organizations trying ti establish an Islamic caliphate on earth.

I am also planning a trip to travel to Palestine alone this coming Fall. I would love to hear about your plans and your stay. Please feel free to email me anytime at jla1320@yahoo.com. Thanks so much!