Palestinian Territories Fast Fax
picture courtesy www.atlastours.net
The Palestinian Territories are overseen tentatively by the elected government of the Palestinian Authority. Israel, however, has economic and military power over the area and is currently in negotiations with several groups to cede power to the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Territories are currently two distinct land areas, one called the Gaza "Strip" (map) runs along the Mediterranean Coast and borders Israel and Egypt. The other area is called the "West Bank" (map) and is a landlocked region bordering Israel and Jordan.
Both the Israelis and Palestinians claim the city of Jerusalem as their capital with the Palestinians making up the majority of Eastern Jerusalem.
Tourists are able to visit both the West Bank and the Gaza area and there are several hotels and other amenities.
Many tourists travel to the religious town of Bethlehem in the West Bank as part of their Palestinian Territories trip.
Weather & Climate
Both the West Bank and Gaza have very hot summers, especially from June - August, and somewhat mild yet still cold winters.
Even though Gaza is on the coast, it is still usually not very windy throughout the year.
Parts of the West Bank have seen snow during winter time, thought the temperature is rarely below 40 degrees F.
There is very little rain throughout the year.
Religion
The majority of Palestinians are Muslim though there is a very large Christian population as well.
Religion is an important part of everyday life and the general cultural climate is very conservative.
Language
Arabic is the official language though most everyone speaks some amount of English.
Clothing
Dress conservatively and it may be wise to not wear sleeveless shirts or shorts for both men and women.
Visas
If you are traveling from the United States or Europe. only a valid Passport is required for entry. The passport must be valid for at least six months, normally a visitor is authorized to remain in the region for three months.
Please check with your home country or the Palestinian Authority's website (http://www.pna.gov.ps/) for up to date information before you go.
Driving
Several major rental car agencies are located throughout the Palestinian Territories. Road conditions are typically good, driving can be a hassle though with the traffic, checkpoints and other problems.
Driving is not generally recommended for visitors while in the Palestinian Territories. Most people travel here as part of a package tour and ride on buses or taxi-cabs.
Driving between Israel and the Palestinian Territories can be problematic because of long waits at Israeli checkpoints.
Drugs & Alcohol
Alcohol is available throughout the region, though there have been several crackdowns by extremist groups.
Illegal d rug use is never wise, but especially here where the penalties are particularly severe and the chances of being rescued by your home country is very slim.
Money
Palestine does not have a national currency yet. The Israeli Shekel is accepted most places. US dollars and Jordanian
Dinars are also widely used. In Gaza, Egyptian currency can usually be used. There are many currency exchange businesses in the area and make sure you find the best deal before changing your money.
Credit cards are used in major areas. ATM machines are infrequently found and checks are not usually taken as payment.
Vaccinations
There are no vaccinations required to enter the Palestinian Territories.
Annoyances
Travel to the Palestinian Territories is still a new concept and the tourist infrastructure still has yet to be built. The most annoying feature will be waiting at Israeli checkpoints or being stopped by Israeli army and asked for your papers.
Many Jews and people driving with Israeli license plates have been the target of unwelcome activity in the Palestinian Territories so it is wise to be cautious and travel with a group.
Tourist scams are common and you should never go with someone you don't know, change money in a dark location, buy drugs, or generally deal with anyone who seems untrustworthy. You can always find help, as there are tons of people everywhere, and most Palestinians are very open and helpful people.
Gay & Lesbian Travel
Homosexuality and Lesbianism are not widely accepted in the Palestinian culture. Avoid any obvious signs if you don't want unwelcome attention.
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