Suggested Length of Stay
Recommended length of stay in Palestine would be 4-7 days and incorporated with Israel and or Jordan.
Modes of transport
Roads
In the West Bank, the highways that link Israeli settlements are usually modern and quick, but on other roads traffic is often held up by donkey carts, traffic jams and army checkpoints.
Public transport
The schedule of these bus lines starts 0600 to 2200, their frequency varies between 5-15 minutes according to the time in the day. During the morning hours until 15:00 they run usually every 5 minutes. Tickets cost varies from regular to checkpoint only or beyond, to youth, or seniors, in addition to one-way and return.
Taxis
Taxis are widely available in all Palestinian cities and are a popular choice of public transportation. Fares are negotiable. West Bank blue and green license plates are not permitted to enter Jerusalem. Israeli operated taxis (with yellow plates) may enter the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the driverās discretion. If the driver declines it is easy to transfer to a Palestinian taxi at the checkpoint.
Flying
The West Bank has no functioning airport.
Health Precautions
Be aware that health insurance for Israel will generally not cover the Palestine, but some providers will offer cover for both.
Food and Drink
Thankfully, it is no longer hard to find traditional Palestinian food in the West Bank, and a number of restaurants, particularly in Bethlehem, now offer dishes such as mansaf (literally ‘exploded’ chicken or lamb over rice with a thick, meaty broth) and makloubeh (‘upside down’ chicken, under rice cooked with nuts and spices). Meanwhile, no trip to the West Bank is complete without trying kunafeh, the sweet wheat-and-cheese-based desert that is native to the northern city of Nablus.
Money
The currency in Israel is the Israeli Shekel (ILS). ATMs are widely available. Currencies also used in Palestine include the Jordanian Dinar and the US Dollar.
Time Zone
GMT +2 (GMT +3, Mar – Oct)
Visas
There are no separate visa requirements for the West Bank, and Australian passport holders do not need a visa for Israel.
Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Palestine
Australian Representative Office, Palestinian Authority
7th floor
Trust building
Othman Ben Affan Street
El ā Bireh
Ph: +972 2 242 5301
Email: ramallah.office@dfat.gov.au
Palestine Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia
Embassy of the State of Palestine
2/44 Dalman Crescent
O’Malley ACT 2606
Ph: 02 6286 9193
Email: Palestinian.Delegation@palgov.org
Electricity
230 volts, 50Hz; European-style two-pin and round three-pin plugs are used
Getting there (stopovers)
Cathay Pacific operates daily services to Tel Aviv via Hong Kong. El Al operates services from Hong Kong and Bangkok.
Tipping
Tipping in restaurants is not the norm except in touristy places, so waiters will be grateful for any gratuity. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
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