Torchus

Hi,

I spend a significant amount of my time in Israel because of business.
After visiting most of Israel's highlights, I'd like to see something of the West Bank. Apart from driving through it on the main highways, I have never been there.

Ramallah, as capital of the Palestinian Authority, is the city that is the highest on my list.

I have a non-Israeli passport, and drive a car (owned by the company) with an Israeli plate.

Can I just drive to Ramallah with the car, and park somewere over there, or do I have to park in Jerusalem and take a cab?

All advice is appreciated.

Cheers.

awayIgo

The main reason rentals are not allowed to enter Ramallah is because rental agencies do not carry the insurance necessary. So, while no one will stop you from entering OR check the insurance, you do need to verify with the company what their policy is and what kind of insurance they have on the vehicle. The last thing you want is to risk driving an uninsured vehicle.

Simon1

The last thing he want is to come back alive, with a yellow plate the most chances are that you will be stoned before you even explain who you are, if you are not invited by authorities and escorted by them, DON'T GO.

mbgg

The main practical reasons not to go by rental car are no insurance and no service if you break down. It is much simpler to take a bus from the station near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem and Hebron are close by. Take your passport with you !!

Thumper

This is absolutely the best advice. While you do see cars with "Israeli" plates in the West Bank, you would not want to be the victim of mistaken identity while there. I drove through Kalandiya suburb of Ramallah (long story) and it was, well, unsettling.

Rental cars can get through an Israeli border crossing (they are called checkpoints, but the ones weare talking about are really the entry crossing points into and back from PA territory). But as noted, you take your financial future into your hands. Sort of like a domestic only rental car in Washington State you take into Canada and total the car there.

I have also seen cars turned around, as there is no "right" to cross.
You absolutely want to have all documentation, include visas as well as some documentation of your departure plans (ie. plane tickets out) when returning to Israel.

Since we are discussing the good, the bad and the ugly, let's be honest about your return into Israel with an Israeli tagged car arriving from the West Bank. You car is going to be inspected with a fine tooth comb, as you and anyone with you will be as well. Identity confirmation and almost certainly a call to your company to confirm who you are. (I always advise visitors to have a note written on letterhead from their company in Israel explaining who they are.)

Lastly, I would question the wisdom of traveling unless you happen to have some command of Arabic to fall back on if needed.

While not directly answering your question, and at this second maybe not a perfect idea, AegeanAir has round trip all/in tickets Tel Aviv to Athens for around $104. I did this in April, 100 minute flight.

B'hatslacha,

Thumper

Torchus

Did the trip to Ramallah few days ago.

Loved the city. Pretty vibrant and many friendly people ... quite different than in Israel ...

Plenty of Israeli license plates over there, even though the sign when entering area A says it is 'dangerous to your lives'. Seems more like cheap propaganda to me.

mbgg

I suggest that you read up on the recent history of the area before making accusations of "cheap propaganda". Although currently the situation is quiet and the risk is relatively small, there still are terrorist cells that are active in the PA areas, as evidenced by recent drive-by shootings, etc. The warnings issued by the Israeli Govt are similar to the travel warnings regularly issued by the US State Dept, the British Foreign Office, etc (which many choose to ignore) - are those "cheap propaganda" too ?

dand99

+100

The very worst thing visitors could do is take a car with yellow plates into palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria.

Anyone who wants to go should at very least take a bus, and do a lot of checking up as to where and when to go. As a non-Israeli tourist you should be fine most of the time, but these areas can be very dangerous indeed.

The safest option is to take a guided tour, which the palestinians offer. That is where you would receive the cheap (or possibly expensive) propaganda. I have never taken one but I understand you meet the guides at the checkpoints going into the palestinian areas.

Although not mentioned, some would like to see the Jewish areas of Judea and Samaria. Again, this would be quite safe, but as a visitor, you would be much better off taking a bus (or a tour, or going with someone) rather than driving yourself. Waze/Google maps have no regard for your safety as long as your travel times are shorter.

dand99

Off the topic of how to go safely, can you write a few more lines about what you saw there and what it was like ?

joshwex90

The vibe was different or the fact that people were friendly was different?

Definitely not "cheap propaganda." First off, I'm betting that the majority of the yellow license plates are of Israeli Arab citizens and/or permanent residents (Jerusalem) with family in Ramallah. Second, saying something like that means you're quite unaware of the security situation. This isn't meant as a political rant. Simply that it's important to point this out because saying otherwise can give the wrong impression to others who find this thread and think going into Ramallah as an Israeli (citizen/tourist) is as simple as that.

manneca

Several years ago I walked to Bethlehem from Jerusalem. I was staying near the check point and walked through It was about 45 minutes from where I was staying. Bethlehem is very much a tourist city and I'd imagine quite different from Ramallah.

I sat and talked in the tourist center with two women, Christian arabs, who told me how difficult their life was. I imagine it's much worse now.

IAN-UK

I understand this thread is about entering the West Bank from Israel, and i also understand that Israel has de facto, if not complete de jure control, of the territory.

But I wondered if non-Palestinans are able to use the Allenby bridge crossing to get there from Jordan, thus avoiding Israel-proper?

joshwex90

The Allenby Bridge crosses between Israel and Jordan. The territory on the Israeli side is under Israeli military control. While non-Palestinians have access to it, it is Israel's Border Patrol who is in control on the crossing on the Israeli side.

While crossing, a non-Palestinian would technically be avoiding sovereign Israel, but would still be crossing through Israeli border control and would be required to meet the crossing requirements for Israel.