By Miri At least since 09/11 boarding an airplane became a pretty lengthy procedure. Boarding an airplane in order to enter or leave Israel, especially (but not only) as a foreigner and even worse as an Arab or Muslim, has always been a “special” experience. Israeli airline security is notorious for being one of the […]
By Miri Being vegetarian or vegan in your home country or your country of residence is usually not such a big deal. It may take a little time, it may take a little practice, but at some point, no matter what the local cuisine has to offer, you will figure out and learn how to […]
By Miri The contradictions between common representations of the Palestinian population in predominantly Western media and actual real life encounters as visitors to the country usually experience them could not be greater. Images of angry mobs burning US and Israeli flags, of masked fighters roaming the streets, shooting their guns into the air and screaming […]
By Miri A lot of the questions that we receive surround the notions of safety and risk in the West Bank. This is not surprising considering that foreign governmental institutions, such as the respective Departments of Foreign Affairs, consulates etc. urge their citizens to refrain from travelling to Gaza and the South of Israel and […]
How much to tip, and when? I’ve been asked these questions a few times recently which prompted this post. In general tipping in Israel and the West Bank (Palestine) follows the same pattern as other countries. However there are a few significant differences between Israeli and Palestinian culture regarding tipping. If someone provides a service […]
Many people like to have an alcoholic drink now and again. Some like to party on a regular basis. However every country has it’s customs and regulations regarding alcohol. Israel and Palestine are no different. ISRAEL and JERUSALEMInside Israel, west of the Green Line, the laws are clear. The drinking age is 18 years but […]
Back in the 1999s the tour buses clogged the parking lot of Sebastia in the Northern West Bank. Not any more. This ancient Roman city, and the adjacent modern Palestinian village are victims of Isreal’s encapsulation of Palestinian areas though hundreds of checkpoints, barriers, and restricted roads. The tourists used to come mainly from Israeli […]
Editorial from Fred Schlomka:Hopefully some of the tourist traffic generated from this public relations campaign will result in some people visiting the Palestinian Territories. Unfortunately the entire tourist industry in Israel seems to steer people away from the West Bank, and tour agencies and Israeli guides often advise visitors not to to there. TOURISM MINISTRY […]
This guidebook has been completely updated by the Alternative Tourism Group for the 2008 edition. It’s a real gem. Now available for online purchase. Publishing this Guidebook marks an important turning-point in presenting Palestine to visitors. The ATG (Alternative Tourism Group) presents the country from the inside. The guidebook covers such key topics as the […]
Fred SchlomkaA recent article in one of Israel’s leading newspapers, Ha’aretz, was written like a tourist industry press release touting the Israeli Government’s opening of the Jordan River site where Christians believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. However the site remains under Israel’s Military Occupation and any economic benefit from pilgrim visits […]
