West Bank
Table of Contents: Cities / Other destinations / Culture and History / Climate / Terrain / History / Travel to West Bank, visa requirements Flights to West Bank, airtickets By car By bus or shared taxi By boat / Get around / Talk / Shopping, West Bank souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / West Bank nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Learn / Work / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact / Get out More from Palestinian Territories: Gaza, Gaza City, Jericho, Nablus, Ramallah, West Bank |
The West Bank is in part a Palestinian enclave in the Middle East between Israel and Jordan, to the north of the Dead Sea. In other parts it is Israel itself. It is known as the West Bank because it lies on the western bank of the Jordan River. This part of the world is steeped in biblical history and contains sites of religious and archaeological significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
1 Cities
- Al-Bireh
- Ariel
- Bethlehem
- Hebron
- Jenin
- Jericho
- East Jerusalem
- Kiryat Arba (Hebron)
- Nablus
- Qalqilya
- Ramallah
- Tulqarm
2 Other destinations
3 Understand
Within the political dispute between the Palestinians and Israelis there are two presentations of the West Bank. In Israeli terms it is called the regions of Judea, Samaria and Benjamin. Some Israelis see the West Bank territories as historically Jewish land and a biblical/historical birthright and seek to resettle it by building settlements there. Israel is also building a security barrier partly within the West Bank, aimed at preventing the infiltration of terrorists into Israel's pre-1967 borders.
In the Palestinian narrative, it is the part of Palestine that many Palestinians were pushed to during the Naqba (catastrophe) of 1948.
3.1 Climate
Temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters.
3.2 Terrain
Mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east.
- lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
- highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
3.3 History
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for foreign and domestic security and public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank had begun in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but have been derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and instability within the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine progress toward a permanent agreement.
4 Get in
4.1 By plane
There are no civilian airports within the West Bank, and the the nearest major airport is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion. From Ben Gurion Airport, it is possible to take a 50 minute taxi or train ride to Jerusalem.
Note that Palestinian citizens and their descendants living abroad cannot travel to Israel or the Palestinian Authority through Ben Gurion Airport. The Israeli government requires them to fly to Amman, Jordan and enter via the Allenby Bridge border crossing in the West Bank.
4.2 By car
To enter the Palestinian Authority, take a shared taxi from East Jerusalem to the city you are travelling to. Before entering Area A, you will come to a checkpoint, where you will be required to show your passport, verify your citizenship, and complete a security check. From the checkpoint you can take a Palestinian taxi or sahred taxi to your destination.
Driving in the West Bank is not recommended at any time, due to the political situation. You cannot drive hired/rental cars from Israel into the Palestinian Authority, specifically areas designated as "Area A" under the Oslo accords, although there are many taxi's that will take you from Jerusalem to areas in the west bank for a much higher price. As most car-hire companies in Israel have different rules, agreements and regulations, you may or may not be able to drive a hired/rented car to areas in the West Bank under Israeli authority. Enquire with whatever company you plan on using to get their policy on the issue.
If you do happen to drive to areas within the West Bank, take heed and uphold security precautions at all times. Terrorists and militant groups used to frequently attack cars travelling in the West Bank with Israeli licence plates. This resulted in many civilian deaths in the past but is less likely today. Additionally, while roads in Israel proper are kept in excellent condition, this may not be true in the West Bank. Damage to cars resulted from driving in the West Bank may not be covered, as many insurance policies are invalid outside of Israel proper.
It is also not possible to drive from Jordan to the West Bank.
Also, It must be known that Palestinians have almost no freedom of movement due to Israeli security protocol and due to the hundreds of roadblocks, taking a taxi on Palestinian roads takes 5-10 times longer if you are stopped, and frequently requires you to walk across roadblocks and catch another taxi on the opposite side
4.3 By bus or shared taxi
Bus service to settlements in the West Bank can be found at almost any major Israeli bus stations. The national bus carrier, Egged (אגד) is responsible for all public bus service, and has one of the most effective bus systems in the world. Due to recent political violence, the Israeli government has installed enhanced security on buses such as bullet proof windows (on certain routes) and crash barriers at bus stops. Still, traveling by bus is discouraged for first time visitors.
For reaching Palestinian cities in the West Bank, Service Taxis (shared taxis, pronounced servees) are preferable over Egged buses.
4.4 By boat
There are no passenger services across the Dead Sea, as the highly saline water wreaks havoc on boat engines.
5 Get around
Highways : total: 4,500 km
paved: 2,700 km
unpaved: 1,800 km (1997 est.)
Taxis are your best bet. If you're part of a tour, your tour bus is even better. Delays at checkpoints are common.
6 Talk
The main languages in the West Bank are Arabic and Hebrew, although English is widely understood. Avoid speaking Hebrew in Arab cities and Arabic in Jewish settlements, as it may arouse suspicion.
7 Buy
Currency is Israeli Shekels, though US dollars seem to be widely accepted, especially at tourist shops (Jericho and Bethlehem, for example)
8 Eat
Falafel, Shawarma, Hummus, Musakhan, Tabouli, Kofta, Knafeh, Kibbeh, Maqluba, Baba Ghanoush, and other Levantine cuisine
9 Drink
In cities, such as Ramallah, alcohol is often avaliable at restaurants. Be aware that the West Bank is predominately Muslim, and as such public displays of intoxication are considered rude, and are possibly dangerous.
10 Sleep
11 Learn
12 Work
13 Stay safe
Very Difficult to stay safe,never go alone. Watch the news and check the situation before you go. It isn't a good idea to visit if fighting between Hamas and Fatah, or between the Palestinians and Israelis, is flaring up again.
Jewish and Israeli visitors should be extra cautious.
14 Stay healthy
15 Respect
Pretty much the same as any other Muslim country. The West Bank is less 'religious' than, say, Saudia Arabia, so women travellers don't need to be completely covered. It is still a good idea to dress conservatively.
Be very wary of bringing up politics and the Israel-Palestinian conflict, for obvious reasons.
16 Contact
Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for communication services in the West Bank
17 Get out
Delays may occur at checkpoints unexpectedly, especially if there has been recent violence or political events. Sometimes it may be quicker to walk through a checkpoint on foot rather than on a vehicle, and then take a taxi to your destination once you get through.
More from Palestinian Territories: Gaza, Gaza City, Jericho, Nablus, Ramallah, West Bank |
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