From Wikitravel

Israel [1] (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל Medinat Yisra-el; Arabic: دولَة إِسرائيل Dawlat Isrā'īl) is a small yet diverse Middle Eastern country with a long coastline on the eastern Mediterranean Sea and a small window on the Red Sea on the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba). Israel is bordered by Egypt and Gaza Strip to the southwest, by Jordan and the West Bank to the east (with which it shares a border along the Jordan River and the Dead Sea), and by Syria and Lebanon to the north.

Israel is considered a Holy Land (together with areas of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Territories), to four major world religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith - as well as a vibrant modern history and culture, based in no small part on the diverse, mostly immigrant origins of its inhabitants from the Arab world and the Jewish Diaspora. These aspects make Israel a fascinating (if sometimes challenging) drawcard for many travellers and pilgrims.

Israel is a highly urbanized and economically developed society and is therefore best divided for the traveller into its main cities and towns, followed by the regions and other sites.

Contents 1 Cities 2 Regions 2.1 Occupied territories 3 Other destinations 3.1 Archaeological / Historical Centers and Sites 3.2 Geographical / Natural Sites 4 Understand 4.1 History 4.2 Economy 4.3 People 4.4 Culture 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By boat 5.3 By road 5.4 By bus 6 Get around 6.1 By bus 6.2 By sherut 6.3 By train 6.4 By taxi 6.5 By thumb 6.6 By car 7 Sleep 8 Talk 9 Buy 9.1 General 9.2 Currency and Money Matters 9.3 Business Hours 9.4 Souvenirs 10 Eat 10.1 Kosher food 10.2 Passover 10.3 Fast and popular 10.4 Ethnic food 11 Drink 11.1 Alcoholic 11.1.1 Beer 11.1.2 Liqueurs 11.1.3 Soft Drinks 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 14.1 Emergency phone numbers 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Electricity 18 Contact 18.1 Phone 18.2 Internet

Cities

• Jerusalem - the political and spiritual capital of Israel, as well as city sacred for millennia to three religions: Jews (the site of the Temple), Christians (the scene of Christ's Passion), and Muslims (site of the al-Aqsa Mosque.) Note: Although many countries recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, including the United States, almost all countries retain their embassies in Tel Aviv. From a legal standpoint, East Jerusalem remains occupied territory. From a practical point of view, the embassies aren't that far away from Jerusalem; travel time between the two locations is 50 minutes, without traffic, by car, and 90 minutes by train.
• Tel Aviv - First Hebrew city in 2000 years and one of the three largest, the most vibrant city in the country, a mere century old but incorporating the ancient port city of Jaffa and a sprawling metropolis along the coastal plain - includes the White City cultural World Heritage site of Bauhaus architecture.
• Haifa - Israel's main port and industrial city located in the north of the country. Also world center of the Bahá'í Faith and home of the beautiful Shrine of the Báb and Terraces.
• Nazareth - the hometown of Jesus, now the largest Arab city in Israel proper
• Akko (Acre) - a fascinating historical city on the far north coast of Israel, and a pilgrimage site for Bahá'ís.
• Modiin - Modern, technological city and site of the Maccabean Revolt against the Greeks in ancient times
• Rehovot - home to the Weizmann Institute of Science
• Herzliya - located on the coast north of Tel Aviv
• Petach Tikva - 8 miles east of Tel Aviv, Israel's medical capital
• Ramat Gan - An extension of Tel Aviv, a diamond center
• Tiberias - located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, a modern resort town with an ancient background
• Nahariyya - located on the northern Mediterranean coast, north of Haifa.
• Beer Sheva (or: Beersheba) - the capital of the Negev
• Dimona - A desert town hosting Israel's nuclear facility, and the Black Hebrews
• Beth Shean - gateway to the north Jordan Valley and site of amazing ancient ruins
• Eilat - The Goa of the Middle East, Israel's window on the Red Sea
• Ashdod - One of the three port cities in Israel.
• Bnei Brak - Suburb of Tel Aviv, a large portion of its residents are Jewish Orthodox.

Regions

Israel possesses a number of diverse regions, with landscapes varying between coast, mountain, valley and desert, with everything in between. Beyond the towns and cities, each region of Israel holds its own unique attractions. The metropolitan areas of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv very much form their own regions; from north to south, however, Israel's regions are as follows:

• Golan Heights - Annexed in 1982 by Israel, but claimed by Syria and Lebanon
• Upper Galilee - from Dan at the base of Mount Hermon down to the Beit haKerem Valley in south, and from the North Coast across to the Sea of Galilee
• Lower Galilee - the hills immediately north of the Jezreel Valley
• the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) - diverse landscapes and settlements around the lake, many with connections to the life of Christ
• the North Coast - sometimes called "Western Galilee", extends along the Mediterranean shore from Haifa to Rosh Haniqra and the Lebanese border
• the Jezreel Valley - an extensive inland valley, largely rural, extending inland from west of Haifa to the Jordan Valley
• the Beth Shean Valley - the core of the north Jordan River valley
• the Carmel Range - a small yet diverse region of hills, south of Haifa
• the Sharon - broadly speaking, the coastal plain north of Tel Aviv, south of the Carmel Range
• the Shephelah - the fertile, hilly hinterland between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands
• the Coastal Plain - location of the cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon
• the Judean Desert
• the Dead Sea
• the Negev, including Machtesh Ramon

Occupied territories

The following areas have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. The Palestinian Authority exercises various degrees of control in large parts of the territories.

• Gaza Strip - a narrow coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean
• West Bank - the location of Bethlehem and more, part of the Palestinian Territories

Other destinations

A large number of major attractions in Israel are located some distance from large towns and cities:

Archaeological / Historical Centers and Sites

• Belvoir Castle - a magnificently-located Crusader castle located high above the Sea of Galilee
• Beth Shean - explore the remains of Canaanite, Egyptian and Romano-Byzantine cities
• Dan
• Caesarea - the evocative remnants of Herod the Great's Roman city by the sea
• Hazor - the largest ancient site in Israel
• Masada - high on a plateau above the Dead Sea, the scene of the Zealots' last stand against the might of Rome, a powerful symbol for modern Israel
• Megiddo - an ancient Canaanite and Israelite city and the location of several key battles, both ancient and modern (the location of Armageddon)
• Nimrod Castle - a magnificently-located Crusader castle located above the Sea of Galilee
• Timna
• Safed

Geographical / Natural Sites

• the Dead Sea
• Trail of Israel - Trekking (or cycling) Israel from North to South (or the other way around)
• Ein Avdat canyon situated in a National Park
• Mitzpe Ramon crater (similar to a cliff in the middle of the desert)

Understand

History

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, Israel's Arab neighbors invaded the nation with the hope of regaining previously held territory. The Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank) and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement. But progress toward a permanent status agreement has been undermined by the outbreak of Palestinian-Israeli violence since September 2000.

Economy

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's foreign debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR during the period 1989-99 coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. But growth began moderating in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Growth was a strong 6.4% in 2000. But the bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict, increasingly the declines in the high-technology and tourist sectors, and fiscal austerity measures in the face of growing inflation have led to declines in GDP in 2001 and 2002.

People

The most obvious division in Israel's society is between Jews, who make up 80% of the population in Israel proper and 50% in Areas currently controlled by Israel (Gaza Strip and West Bank) and non-Jewish Palestinians, who make nearly all of the rest. In terms of religion, 77% are Jewish, 16% are Muslim, 4% are Christian and 2% are Druze (a Muslim offshoot considered heretical by mainstream Islam). While equality is theoretically guaranteed, in practice there are many restrictions on the Palestinian population, both legal (eg. no military service) and de facto (difficulty in obtaining building permits, onerous security, job discrimination, etc). In particular, the rights of Palestinians who are not Israeli citizens are severely circumscribed.

There are also deep divisions within Jewish society, and more than one commentator has, only half-jokingly, noted if they ever reach peace with the Palestinians the subsequent civil war will make everything before it look like child's play. First is the ethnic division between the Ashkenazim, who originate from northern Europe and are generally considered wealthier and politically better connected, and the Sephardim, or Mizrahim, who came from the Middle East and North Africa. In recent years, the divide between these ethic groups has, however, grown smaller and smaller.

While ethnic divisions have weakened as Israel's locally-born population increases, religious tensions between secular and orthodox Jews have been on the increase. The spectrum ranges from the ultra-orthodox haredim, only 6% of the population but able to wield a disporportionate amount of power thanks to Israel's fractious coalition politics, to 43% who are "religious" or "traditionalist" and 51% who called themselves secular. While secular Jews can be found in Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean coast, orthodox Jews are based mostly in Jerusalem and to an increasing degree in the settlements in the Palestinian Territories.

Culture

Israelis are said to be tough and prickly, but they are really friendly people. In Israel, it's normal for people to be direct in a way that might seem abrupt, even rude, in other parts of the world. Personal questions are common, and should not be taken as an offense. The information Israelis collect on you is meant to help you in a good way, not to set traps for you. Israelis are used to fighting for their right to exist and have to hold their own against the pressures of the family, religion, the army and other Israelis. One of the worst insults in Israel is to be called a FRAYER, often translated "sucker", meaning someone who pays too much, stands in line quietly as other jostle past and in general is taken advantage of instead of standing up.

But Israelis are also very kind and hospitable. When you make a friend here they will do the best to take care of you while you're in their country.

Israel's time is + 2 hrs from GMT so when it's 6 pm (GMT), 1 pm (EST), it's 8 pm in Israel. Daylight saving time (Summer time) begins on the last Friday before April 2nd, and ends on Saturday between the Jewish holidays of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur.

Get in

Citizens from most European, North American and Australasian countries do not need a visa prior to arrival. Note that German citizens born before January 1, 1928, do have to apply for a visa in advance. This visa will be given if you were not heavily involved in events during the Nazi era and will be valid for the whole time your passport is valid. Further note that in some Arab states it constitutes a crime for their citizens to enter Israel at all. Even if you're an Arab-born citizen of a European or North American country having entered Israel may have consequences when returning to your country of birth.

Pay attention to the fact that many Arab countries (such as Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia etc.) deny entry to any person that has been to Israel. Not only an Israeli stamp puts your entry into these countries at risk but also a stamp from another country (such as Egypt or Jordan) that you can only receive in a border crossing point towards Israel. If arriving by air or by sea and wishing to go to Arab states with the same passport, ask the Israeli immigration officer to put his stamp onto a separate piece of paper. Then you're safe not to be denied entry by the Arab states named above. Citizens of some countries (such as Germany) have the possibility of applying for a second passport. This allows them to have an Israeli stamp in one passport and travel to the Arab states with another one.

Most European and American visitors get three months stay when they arrive by plane. In the past westerners entering by land have be given two weeks, this is no longer true (as of November 2005). Israeli immigration may take a dim view of travelers arriving from Arab countries, but you are unlikely to face anything worse than very time-conusming, and repetitive, but polite questioning.

By plane

Israel's main international airport - Ben-Gurion International Airport [2] (code TLV) - is located approximately halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and serves both cities.

Israel's second international airport (used mostly by charter carriers) is located at Ovda [3], near Eilat (code: VDA)

Israel has three major airlines with international connections: (1) The national carrier, El Al (אל-על) [4], possesses direct international connections with many European and North American cities. (2) Arkia Israel Airlines [5], the major domestic airline, provides flights to a number of European destinations. (3) Israir [6] flies to most European hubs, including London, as well as to New York City. A large number of international carriers also fly regularly into Israel - these include Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, and Turkish Airlines.

Note that security measures above and beyond what you might encounter in most countries are taken for flights both to and from Israel - these, of course, are undertaken for your, and other passengers', safety and security. Arriving at the terminal at least three hours before your flight is well advised, as Israeli security procedures can be time-consuming. Bag inspection is routine and should be expected, in addition to repeated interviews about your time in Israel. Keep your cool in what can be a frustrating time - it really is done with the best intentions, if not always the most elegant execution. Having the telephone number of friends or colleagues you may have spent time with in Israel, and who can vouch for you, always helps the process.

From the airport to Jerusalem take bus line 947 (7:00-21:00, every 20 minutes, 20 NIS). To Tel-Aviv and the rest of the country, take the direct Tel-Aviv train (3:53-23:23, every half an hour during day, every hour during night, 12 NIS). From Tel-Aviv to other destinations, continue by train or bus.

Neither train nor bus service us available on Shabbat (Friday afternoon to Saturday sunset).

Taxi service is available, though not particularly cheap. A better option is a shared taxi, or sherut - these are available outside the airport terminal.

By boat

In Limassol in Cyprus, Louis Cruises, and Salamis Cruises have weekly cruise service every wednesday evening. As of June 2006, Louis Cruises can take passangers one-way for 73 CYP (164 USD). Louis doesn't advertise one-ways on their website but you can either call or just buy the ticket at their offices (walking distance from the new port in Limassol). Salamis at first seemed to be very firm on not taking one-way passangers, however going on the day of the departure to the freighter offices of Salamis, it was possible to get on the boat for 100 CYP (50 CYP for children).

The easiest way to get to Cyprus by boat is from Turkey to the Northern part. You will then need to cross the semi-open green line to the greek side.

From Greece, Salamis Freighters (Mostly for cargo and vehicles) go on wednesdays and saturdays to Haifa through Limassol (Cyprus). The price from Limassol is 80 CYP per passanger and you can get the tickets at their office in Limassol in the new port area.

There are (Summer 2006) weekly round trip cruises from Ashdod and Haifa to Cyprus (Larnaca and/or Limassol) and Turkey (Alanya), however these are known to refuse one-way travelers - that is not to say it isn't worth a try as going from Turkey directly is simpler than going through Cyprus.

If you manage to hitch a lift on a freighter, Israel's major sea ports are Haifa and Ashdod. Private yachts use the marinas at Herzliya (north of Tel-Aviv) and Ashkelon (South of Ashdod).

By road

There are land routes to both Egypt and Jordan from Israel. There are no land routes to either Syria or Lebanon owing to the continuing state of hostilities with these countries. The border crossings have security measures similar to the airports.

Jordan has three crossings with Israel: the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge (the shortest way between Amman and Jerusalem, the busiest crossing); the Jordan River (in the north); and Arava\Yitshak Rabin (2 km from Eilat). If you ask the immigration officers (Jordanian and Israeli) politely they will usually stamp a separate piece of paper. It's fairly straightforward to cross using a series of buses.

From Egypt you can cross the border in Taba Border Terminal, near Eilat. From the terminal to Eilat, take bus number 15, or a taxi. The terminal is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the exception of Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) and the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

Israeli rental cars are not generally permitted across the borders, for insurance reasons.

By bus

Daily direct buses is available from Amman to Tel-Aviv, Haifa and Nazareth, through King Houssein bridge. Call the operator (+972-4-6573984) for details.

Get around

In getting around Israel, be aware primarily of the Sabbath: from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, there is effectively no public transportation available in Israel (except in Haifa and Eilat, and limited sherut services - shared taxis, see below). Unless you have a car, if you're daytripping on a Friday, you should start thinking about how to get back by noon at the latest, and you should plan on staying near your lodgings on Saturday.

By bus

Main Article: Bus travel in Israel

Buses are the most common form of public transportation for Israelis and travellers alike. They are cheap, fast and reliable. The only problem tourists will face is that it is very difficult to plan your journey through Israel by bus; a problem the main article Bus travel in Israel aims to solve.

The extensive national bus system is run by a public corporation called Egged (pronounced "Eg-ged"), the second-largest bus network in the world. Additionally, a bus company called Dan operates solely in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Some other companies are active as well.

By sherut

Faster than normal buses are minivans, known as monit sherut or "service taxi", that generally follow major bus routes but can be hailed from anywhere. They are usually somewhat cheaper and somewhat quicker than buses, their operations hours may be longer - and maybe most imporantly, in many cases the sherut runs 7 days a week, including on Shabbat.

For inter-city lines, if a driver is at a station he may wait until he has a full load of passengers before leaving. Ben Gurion Airport has a rule that drivers are supposed to leave one hour after getting their first passenger, but that rule seems to be ignored mostly. The upshot of this is that unless you're with a group, or the Sherut already has a load of passengers, you might be in for a wait before you leave.

By train

One of the best advances in transport in Israel in recent years has been the modernisation of the train system, now set for major expansion. The system currently runs along Israel's Mediterranean coast, being particularly useful for connections between Haifa, Tel Aviv, Beer-Sheva and Ben-Gurion airport, as well as the new link to Jerusalem.

Train fares are 5%-10% more expensive then equivalent bus fares (except of the line Tel Aviv - Beer Sheva, with a train fare that almost doubles the bus fare). The trains get very crowded on Sunday mornings, when soldiers travel to their bases and students to their universities.

• Israel Railway website

By taxi

Taxis are very common in Israel. The driver should use the meter both inside and outside cities (in Hebrew, moneh), unless the passenger agrees to prefix a price. There's are surcharges for calling a taxi (3.50 NIS on June 2006), luggage (2.90 a piece) and fetching a taxi in Ben-Gurion airport (5 NIS).

By thumb

This area is known to be one of the easiest places to hitchhike in the world. Since soldiers use hitchhiking as an official method of transport, most major junctions have shelter and are well lit throughout the night. This is a great way to meet an interact with the locals. A sign can help (put a blank piece of paper inside a plastic sleeve, and with a dry-erase marker you have a reusable hitchhiking sign). When hitchhiking, instead of a thumb, you extend your hand, with 1 or 2 fingers extended, pointing at the road. For short rides, the 1 or 2 fingers should point to the ground.

By car

Sleep

Israel is host to a huge variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels through to 5-star luxury hotels.

• The Israel Hotel Association (IHA)

is the umbrella organization for Israel's hotels and also represents them. About 350 hotels, from Metulla in the North to Eilat in the South, are members of the IHA.

• Israel has a thriving network of youth hostels run by the Israel Youth Hostel Association.
• A large number of kibbutzim now include Bed and Breakfast accommodation amongst their activities. [7]
• Private owned Bed and Breakfast accommodation can be found throughout the country as well. [8]

Talk

Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. That most widely spoken is Hebrew, however, a sizable part of the population are Palestinian and Arabic is used by them together with a significant part of non-Palestinian Israelis who also speak it. Massive immigration from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s brought a large number of immigrants who speak Russian. Other influential languages in Israel - reflecting the diverse origins of Israelis - are French, German and Polish. Some of the older people and part of the ultra-orthodox population speak Yiddish, a Jewish Germanic language.

While speaking Hebrew Sleng, Arabic oriented words are comunly used. for example: "Walla ?" - (Is that so ?), "Yalla" - (come on, lets move), "Sababa" - (Great !), "Ahla" - (good), "Sahbak" - (friend) and many more. Street talk is also much effected by the military language, who is a second nature to many of the Israelies. Swearing in Hebrew is easy, just say: "Ben-Zona" - (Son of a whore), "Mefager" - (retard), "Sharrmuta" - (Slut) or "Hazir !" - (pig).

It is generally very easy to communicate with English in Israel, since English is compulsory in Israeli schools. It is difficult to find someone who cannot speak at least basic English, especially amongst the under-40s. All street and road signs (and many others besides) have the English name, as well as the Hebrew and Arabic names.

See also: Hebrew phrasebook, Arabic phrasebook

Buy

General

Living and travelling costs in Israel are almost on a par with Western Europe, North America and Australasia, making it by far the most 'expensive' country in the Middle East region. If you are planing to visit any neighbouring countries, you could save some money by purchasing as many of your souvenirs elsewhere.

Currency and Money Matters

The Israeli unit of currency is the shekel (proper name = the New Israeli shekel). Each shekel is divided into 100 (new) agorot. The common symbols for the shekel are NIS or ₪. There are 5, 10, 50 agorot, 1, 5, 10 shekels coins, and 20,50,100 & 200 shekels notes. $1 US equals about 4.61 NIS; 1€ equals about 5.46 NIS; £1 equals about 7.93 NIS (January 2006).

ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and are connected to European and American banking systems - this is easily the best way to access funds without paying commission on travelers' cheques! Note that post office branches change travellers cheques (and cash) commission-free. Cash can also be sent to post office branches using Western Union services.

You can get V.A.T. (16.5%, June 2006) refunds when leaving the country but if you don't like the queue at the airport note that there is no V.A.T in Eilat.

US Dollars are accepted in some tourist locations, particularly Jerusalem, at an rough exchange rate of 4 to 5 NIS to the dollar.

Business Hours

The business days are Sunday through Friday in Jewish towns, allowing for observance of the Sabbath ("Shabbat") from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. On Friday, shops will in general close at about 14:30-15:00 to allow ample time return home before sundown. Many shops, especially in malls, will re-open on Saturday evening, at about 19:00 in winter, and 20:30 in summer. Some shops, especially outside towns or in touristic areas, as well as 24-hours convinient stores, open on Saturday as well. In Arab towns, shops are open in general 7 days a week.

Shops in malls and on major shopping streets open from 9:30 to 21:00 daily. Banks and post offices, and some shops stick to the traditional business hours, 8:30-19:00, with a lunch break from about 13:00 to 16:00, so do check.

Markets usually open and close early.

Souvenirs

Israeli wine, kosher products, t-shirts, diamonds. Almost needless to say, Israel is one of the best countries for purchasing Judaica and Christian pilgrim trinkets.

While it is legal to purchase antiquities from the small number of government-licensed dealers, exporting antiquities from Israel is illegal, unless with a written authetization from the Israel Aniquities Authority.

Eat

Kosher food

The Hebrew word Kasher (כָּשֵר), pronounced by East-European Jews as Kosher, means legal, or legitimate. When associated with food, it means anything that is allowed by the Jewish religious laws concerning food. These laws are quite complex, but the short version is that they totally forbid certain products (such as pork and shellfish), and allow others only under restrictions - most importantly, that meat and dairy products are not to be cooked together or eaten on the same meal, which bans all sorts of Western staples like cheeseburgers and pizzas with meat toppings. In addition, lighting a fire on Shabbat is forbidden, so only cold or long-simmered food is allowed.

Most of the hotels in Israel are Kosher, so breakfast is dairy, and on lunch and dinner you'll not be able to get milk for your coffee (although soy milk is a common substitute). Most big supermarkets sell only Kosher products, but more and more non-Kosher supermarkets and convenient stores pop in recent years. With restaurants things are more complicated: in Tel-Aviv, it is sometimes difficult to find anything but Falafel & Shawarma stands that holds Kosher certificate. In Jerusalem, on the other hand, Kosher cafes and restaurants are much more common. So if you care, you shouldn't assume anything and always ask.

One attraction for practicing Jewish (and other) tourists are the kosher McDonald’s restaurants. Note that most of the branches are not kosher, so ask before ordering. Most Burger-King restaurants in Israel are kosher, though - and so are branches of Burger Ranch, Israeli burger chain.

Passover

Another series of strict restrictions come into force during the eight days of Passover, when leavened bread (hametz) — taken to include any grain product that may have come into contact with moisture and thus started fermenting — is banned. Some Jews even widen the ban to cover rice and legumes. The main substitute is matzo, the famously dry and tasteless flatbread, and you can even get a matzoburger from McDonalds during Passover.

Fast and popular

Falafel was officially adopted as the national food. In recent years, it has lost some of its popularity, but is still quite ubiquitous. These are small fried balls of mashed chickpeas, usually served inside a pita bread with humus-chips-salat (humus, French fries and vegetable salad) and tehina. A selection of more salads is usually available, and you can fill your pita with as much as it can take. This is usually the cheapest lunch available (10-15NIS), and it's vegetarian. You can also order half a serving ("kha-TSEE mah-NAH").

Another popular option is Shawarma, sliced sheep or calf meat, also served inside a pita, or its larger cousin Lafa, with humus-chips-salat. Many other things can fit your pita: for example, Me'orav Yerushalmi (Jerusalemite mix), which contain several types of meat, or Schnitzel, a batter fried chicken breast. (Humus), a cream of chickpeas, tehina, onion, lemon and olive oil, is also served on a plate, and eaten by hand using small piece of pita.

Another street food gaining popularity is the Iraqi-origin Sabich, a pita bread stuffed with a hard boiled egg, batter dipped deep fried eggplant, houmos, tehina, and salad.

Ethnic food

Jews immigrating to Israel from different parts of the world brought with them many different cooking traditions. Most of these are now served in a handful of specialty restaurants, so check the individual chapters are ask around. Among the selection: Ashkenazi (eastern European Jewish), Bulgrian, Turkish, North African, Iraqi, Iranian, and others.

One dish however is known over almost the entire Jewish Diaspora. Known in Europe as Cholent and in the middle east and north Africa as Chamin. It is a sort of stew that has simmered for many hours on low fire. It is traditionally a Shabbat dish, originating from the prohibition on lighting fire and cooking on Shabbat. The exact ingredients vary, but it usually contains meat (usually beef or chicken), legumes (chickpea or bean) and\or rice, eggs, and vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots. Chamin is served in some restaurants on Saturday, and can be bought in delicatessen on Friday.

Israelis appreciate good coffee and café culture thrives in the country. Although the Starbucks enterprise has not been so successful there are several highly popular local coffee chains. Many Israelis like to just spend time sipping their "hafuch" (Cafe latté) and chatting with friends. You can also have light meal with sandwiches and salads. Aroma is Israel's largest coffee chain. You can order sandwiches there in three sizes and choose from three types of bread. Arcafé is slightly more expensive, but their coffee (some say) is even better. Many Israelis still like to drink "botz" (mud coffee) which is an extra finely ground coffee you just stir into the glass and let settle. But you probably wouldn't order "botz" in a chic espresso bar, and those who are used to Starbucks-like coffee most likely won't find it palatable.

One attraction for religious Jewish (and other) tourists are the kosher McDonald’s restaurants. Note that most of the branches are not kosher, so ask before ordering. Many Burger-King restaurants are kosher, though.

Vegetarians / Vegans - due to "kashrut" (the rules of keeping kosher) there are many restaurants that serve only dairy food, which makes them popular with vegetarians. In some parts of the country you can also find Vegan restaurants run by the Black Hebrews. Amirim is a vegetarian/vegan village in the Galilee with several resaurants.

Tipping is appreciated in sit-in restaurants. It is standard to give 10% (or 15% for exceptional service). Some establishments include a service charge in the bill; in this case it is clearly marked (normally in Hebrew and in English).

Krembo (A hybrid of the words KREM and BO, "Cream" and "In it", respectively) is a favorite Israeli chocolate snack. It is composed of a round cookie, on which cream (Most often Vanilla-flavored, but there is also a Mocca variety) lays, covered with a chocolate shell. Krembos come wrapped in aluminium foil, and are very delicate. They are rarely found in the summer due to the weather.
Krembos have been eaten in Israel for two generations now, and there is a well known argument as to the right way for eating it. 1. Holding the cookie while eating the chocolate and the cream, and then eating the cookie. 2. Holding the chocolate while eating the cookie and then eating the choclate and the cream. 3. Eating all of it at once.

Drink

Alcoholic

Beer

There are three main brands of Israeli beer:

• Goldstar - a Munich-style dark draught. Can be found in bottles and cans of 0.5 and 0.3 liters (1 pint and half a pint, respectively), or KHE-tsi and sh-LISH (Hebrew for "half" and "third". Referring to the amount based on litres, as Israel uses SI). It is also available from tap (meh-HA kha-VIT).
• Maccabee - a pilsener, lighter and smoother than Goldstar. Only comes in bottles and cans.
• Nesher - comes in bottles, mostly malt.

Palestinian beers are also available:

• Taybeh [9] - from Taybeh village, close to Ramallah, a beer popular with many Palestinians, Israelis and tourists alike... Mainly encountered in Israeli Arab communities and the Old City of Jerusalem.

In addition, a wide varierty of international brands are available throughout Israel—some of them locally brewed. Among the most popular appear to be Heineken and Guinness.

Liqueurs

A common liqueur in Israel is Arak. It is clear, and annis-flavored, slightly similar to Pastis. It is usually served in a glass of about 0.3 liters, mixed with equal amount of water and ice. Arak is usually kept in the freezer, like Vodka. A common brand is called Aluf Ha-Arak.

Soft Drinks

Most of regular western sodas are available, and many have local variants that aren't very different in taste.

Pepsico and Coka-Cola company fight for the soft drinks market agressively.

Tempo and Super Drink are dirt-cheap local variants.

The generic name for Coke or Pepsi is "Cola", and it usually implies Coke - if the place serves Pepsi, they will usually ask if it's ok.

There are several more authentic soft drinks:

Tropit - Cheap soft fruit-flavor drink, usually grape. Comes in a tough aluminium-like bag and a straw. The bag is poked using the straw to make a hole, through which you drink using the straw. Very portable (until holed), and became very popular in summer camps. In the newer varieties there is a marked area where the straw should be inserted. Even then it can sometimes take practice to insert the straw without the juice squirting out.

Cocoa milk - There are brands of sterilized cocoa milk which comes in a plastic bag. The tip of the bag is bitten or clipped off, and the cocoa milk is sucked out. As the Tropit, it is very portable (Although due to its milky nature, not as much as Tropit) until opened, after which it is impractical to reseal. It should be noted that cocoa milk in a bag is usually served cold, and it would be a very bad idea to warm it.

Learn

Special programs for students from abroad are offered by the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Lowy School for Overseas Students in Tel-Aviv University and the Ginsburg-Ingerman Center for International Student Programs at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva.

The International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem in west Jerusalem also offers a variety of educational options relating to the Holocaust.

You can use your time in Israel to study Hebrew. Hebrew school is called Ulpan (pl. Ulpanim). T

For more information on study and volunteering programs, consult the web site of the World Zionist Organization.

Work

One of the iconic activities in Israel is working ("volunteering") on a collective farm: a kibbutz or a moshav. http://www.kibbutz.org.il/eng/welcome.htm

Another popular option is to volunteer for work on an archaeological excavation, mostly conducted in summer at a variety of locations. Most Israeli excavations offer college / degree credit for international students. http://www.ancientneareast.net/volunteers.html

Although it's not legal to work on a tourist visa in practice Israel depends upon immigant workers. Stay at any hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and the staff will offer to put you in contact with opportunities to wash dishes or construction. Pay is only around $5 an hour but that's standard for non-skilled work in Israel.

Stay safe

Buses and bus-stops have unfortunately been the targets of suicide bombers in recent years, although these type of terrorist attacks have become less common in recent months. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, or find an untended parcel, notify the driver, a soldier or police officer immediately. A cease fire currently in effect has lessened the danger of riding public transit and visiting public areas, but caution should be used in disputed areas. Israeli national policy, however, is business as usual. The day after the November 2004 bomb in the Karmel market in Tel Aviv the market was full again. Life goes on.

In terms of crime Israel is a very safe country. You can walk around the cities and towns at night without fear as mugging and drunken violence is all but unknown. Single women should still take care late at night but the risks here are far lower than practically anywhere in Europe.

Israel's relations with its neighbors should always be something that a traveler should be familiar with, as evidenced by the Israeli-Lebanese conflict of 2006. Despite the current cease fire there remains a danger that the conflict will again erupt.

Emergency phone numbers

• Police - 100
• First Aid ("Magen David Adom") - 101
• Fire department - 102

Stay healthy

There are no special medical issues in Israel, no immunizations are necessary. Pharmacies and hospitals are common in all major cities with emergency and health care to a very high Western standard. Travel health insurance is highly recommended, however, as the Israeli health system frequently operates under the American-style "user-pays" approach to treatment.

Note: In Israeli Pharmacies the "over-the-counter" stuff is, in fact, over the counter. Ask the pharmacist if you need anything - chances are, they speak at least some English.

Respect

Visitors to some synagogues, most churches, and all mosques should be aware that entry will normally not be permitted to those with exposed legs (i.e. wearing shorts or short skirts) or exposed upper arms. Carry a wrap or bring a change of clothes. Mosques will also require you to take off your shoes before entry. Men should cover their heads in a synagogue.

The Israeli/Palestinian situation is an emotional issue for many. Expressing any opinion about it might get you some nasty looks, even if you are very sure of the opinions of the people you are with. On the other hand, most people, both Israeli and Palestinian, would be happy to answer your questions about it.

Electricity

The voltage in Israel is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. The electric outlets used are type H and Type C. Type H is a uniquely Israeli three-pronged standard, but most modern type H outlets can also accept type C European two-pronged plugs. In fact, most electronic devices in Israel use type C plugs. For more information on plug types, please see the article Electrical systems.

Electricity is supplied by the Israel Electric Corporation. The special phone number 103 can be used to reach the customer service center.

Contact

Phone

The country code for Israel and the disputed territories is +972.

Area Codes: (drop the leading 0 (zero) when calling from abroad)

• Jerusalem area 02
• Tel Aviv-Yafo and the center 03
• North 04
• South 08
• Sharon 09

Countrywide codes:

• HOT 077
• 012 072

Cellular carriers - 05x plus 7 numbers:

• Cellcom: 052-xxxxxxx
• Pelephone: 050-xxxxxxx
• Orange: 054-xxxxxxx
• Mirs: 057-xxxxxxx

• PalTel (Palestinian telcom): 059

If you want to phone home from Israel, you need to choose which company you want to use for your international call first. You cannot use a access code for international numbers, like in the rest of Europe, where '00' is the almost universal common access code. The companies and their access codes are the following:

• Kavei Zahav ("Golden Lines"): 012
• Barak: 013
• Bezeq International: 014
• Smile: 015
• Netvision: 017
• XFONE: 018

You can rent a cellphone for use in Israel either before your trip or once you arrive from several vendors. Phone stores that rent out phones can be found in the public arrival hall (ie, the non-restricted zone); turn right after leaving the restricted area after picking up your baggage. You will find there the 'Pelephone' and 'Orange' phone stores, both of which rent out phones. If you have a GSM cellphone without SIM-lock, you can buy a SIM-card, which is much cheaper than either renting or buying a phoone. An 'Orange' pre-paid SIM-card costs about 100 shekels ($20).

Some GSM North American and European cell phones will function in "roam" mode in Israel using your regular phone number. Check with your cellular provider for details. However, be aware of the costs - calling to the US or Europe, or inside Israel, might cost more than $1 a minute!

Internet

Internet cafés are widely available in most cities and towns, and free wi-fi access is common in cafés (check individual articles). All branches of 'Aroma Espresso Bar', 'Arcafe','McDonalds' and 'Yellow' convinence stores have free wi-fi access, though in some you will have to approach the staff for a password.

The regular price for a paid internet cafés is about NIS 15 per hour.

This is a usable article. It has information about the country and for getting in, as well as links to several destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!