The Palestinian Territories Country

Introduction
Calls to prayer, churches and checkpoints. A microcosm of the Middle East, the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) are littered with sites of historical interest. But visitors may want to think twice before following in the footsteps of the prophets: both the West Bank and Gaza remain hotly contested and unpredictable.

Destination Facts
Capital: Ramallah
President: Mahmmoud Abbas
Prime Minister: Ismail Haniya
Government: parliamentary democracy
Time zone: GMT +2
Area: 6220 sq km
Population: 3900000
Languages: Muslim, Jewish, Christian
Currency: New Israeli Sheqel (₪)
Country Dialing Code: 970

Getting There
When to travel into the Palestinian territories is almost entirely dependent on its level of security. Travellers are advised to check current warnings prior to travel. Weather-wise you could visit the territories anytime, although August can be uncomfortably hot, especially in low-lying areas and Gaza. December and January can be downright chilly.

Getting there and away
There is not much happening these days at Yasser Arafat International Airport, located at Rafah. Palestinian Airlines flights are currently suspended and the runway has been rendered unusable, thanks to a few bombs dropped by Israeli aircraft. There are several points of entry into the West Bank. From Jerusalem heading north the main checkpoint is Qalandia, just south of Ramallah. South of Jerusalem, the checkpoint nearest Bethlehem is at Gilo. Coming from Amman you enter the West Bank at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing, from where transport is available to Jericho (there is an Israeli checkpoint between the two). At checkpoints you will be dealing with IDF soldiers. Rafah, the Gaza crossing on the Egyptian border, is now in the hands of the Palestinian Authority. However, the only people being allowed to cross are holders of Palestinian ID cards or Egyptian passports.

Getting around
Sheruts, small minibuses that carry around ten passengers, ply between the main cities with great frequency. But moving about is limited by the numerous IDF checkpoints and Israel's habit of closing or blocking major roadways. When checkpoints close taxis tend to find alternative routes through the territories but are always subject to stoppage and inspection by IDF soldiers. Many sheruts only ferry passengers between the checkpoints so you may need to change a couple of times if you are heading deep into the West Bank. Lines can be long at checkpoints but generally move quickly - looking like a tourist and flashing a foreign passport might help to get you through a little faster. If you are traveling from the Dead Sea through the West Bank to northern Israel (eg to Tiberias on Hwy 90), it is possible to drive your own car and there are few hassles associated with this.

Visa:
As long as you have already entered Israel, passport holders of most Western countries can enter the West Bank via its checkpoints from Israel. No special permits are needed to enter the West Bank. Travel into the Gaza Strip is off-limits to casual visitors. Only visitors with special permission (eg the media) are permitted to enter Gaza.

Weather
Summers in the West Bank are long and warm. Southern areas around Hebron can reach 35 ° C (95 ° F) during August, although the weather is a little cooler as you head north. At the other extreme, winters can be cold and wet, although snow is rare. Spring and autumn bring pleasant weather with highs around 23 ° C (74 ° F). The Gaza Strip suffers from high humidity at the height of summer but is pleasant for the rest of the year.

Places of Interest
A microcosm of the Middle East, the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) are littered with sites of historical interest. But visitors may want to think twice before following in the footsteps of the prophets: both the West Bank and Gaza remain hotly contested and unpredictable.

Warning
A ceasefire is now in effect in Gaza but security in the region remains extremely uncertain, particularly in the border areas around the Gaza Strip and southwest Israel. Check travel advisories and news services before travelling. See Safe Travel for updated government warnings.