Israel, the West Bank and Gaza
Country Specific Information
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August 09, 2012

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The State of Israel is a parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem as a result of the 1967 War. Pursuant to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was established in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in 1994. HAMAS, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 and exercises control there. The division of responsibilities and jurisdiction in the West Bank between Israel and the PA is complex and subject to change. PA security forces are responsible for keeping order in certain areas, and the PA exercises a range of civil functions in those areas of the West Bank. Official guidance on entry, customs requirements, arrests, and other matters in the West Bank and Gaza is subject to change without prior notice or may not be available. Tourist facilities are widely available with certain exceptions, including Gaza. Read the Department of State Fact Sheet on Israel for additional information on U.S.-Israeli relations.

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SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live or visit Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza, please take the time to tell our Embassy and/or Consulate about your trip. If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Local Embassy and Consulate General information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

The U.S. Embassy is located at 71 Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv. The U.S. mailing address is 9700 Tel Aviv Place, Washington, DC 20521-9700. The telephone number is (972) (3) 519-7575 Monday through Friday. The after hours emergency number on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. local time on weekdays is (972) (3) 519-7551. The fax number is (972) (3) 516-4390, or 516-0315. The Embassy can be contacted by e-mail.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy should be contacted for information and assistance in the following areas: Israel, the Golan Heights, and ports of entry at Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa Port, the northern (Jordan River) and southern (Arava) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan, and the border crossings between Israel and Egypt.

A U.S. Consular Agent who reports to the Embassy in Tel Aviv maintains an office in Haifa at 26 Ben Gurion Boulevard, telephone (972) (4) 853-1470. The Consular Agent can provide both routine and emergency services in the northern part of Israel.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is located at14 David Flusser, Jerusalem 93392 (Near the former Diplomat Hotel, now the Caprice Diamond Center). The U.S. mailing address is 6350 Jerusalem Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6350. The telephone number is (972) (2) 622-7230. The Consular Section's public telephone number for information and assistance is (972) (2)630-4000, Monday through Friday. For after-hours emergencies directly involving an American citizen on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. local time on weekdays, calls should be directed to (972) (2) 622-7250. The Consular Section's fax number is (972) (2) 630-4070.You may contact the Consulate by e-mail.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem should be contacted for information and assistance in the following areas: Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Allenby Bridge crossing connecting the West Bank and Jordan.

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ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: The general entry and exit requirements for U.S. citizens traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza are listed below. U.S. citizens are advised to read all sections of this sheet very carefully for special regulations that may affect their travel.

The U.S. government seeks equal treatment and freedom to travel for all U.S. citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity. U.S. citizens who encounter difficulties are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem by e-mail or at the numbers above.

Security Screening: U.S. citizens are advised that all persons applying for entry to Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza are subject to security and police record checks by the Government of Israel, and may be denied entry or exit without explanation.

U.S. citizen visitors have been subjected to prolonged questioning and thorough searches by Israeli authorities upon entry or departure. U.S. citizens whom Israeli authorities suspect of being of Arab, Middle Eastern, or Muslim origin; those who have been involved in missionary or activist activity; and those who ask that Israeli stamps not be entered into their passport may face additional, often time-consuming, and probing questioning by immigration and border authorities, or may even be denied entry into Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza. U.S. citizens of similar background who are suspected of wishing to enter those areas deemed prohibited to them by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) are requested by the MOI to sign a standard agreement. This agreement stipulates that they will refrain from entering those prohibited areas. U.S. citizens have been detained and/or arrested at the airport and at other border crossings on suspicion of security-related offenses. Members of religious groups have been monitored, arrested, and deported for suspicion of intent to proselytize in Israel. In some cases, Israeli authorities have denied U.S. citizens access to U.S. consular officers, lawyers, and family members during temporary detention.

Additional security-related delays are not unusual for travelers carrying audio-visual or data storage/processing equipment, and some have had their laptop computers and other electronic equipment confiscated at Ben Gurion Airport. While most items are returned prior to the traveler's departure, some equipment has been retained by the authorities for lengthy periods and has reportedly been damaged, destroyed, lost or never returned. U.S. citizens who have had personal property damaged due to security procedures at Ben Gurion may contact the Commissioner for Public Complaints at the airport for redress by fax to 972-3-9752387. Israeli security officials have also requested access to travelers’ personal e-mail accounts or other social media accounts as a condition of entry. In such circumstances, travelers should have no expectation of privacy for any data stored on such devices or accounts.

U.S. citizens who feel they have been wrongly denied entry to Israel or the West Bank or unnecessarily subjected to additional security screening may contact the American Citizen Services (ACS) unit of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem or the ACS unit of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Israeli-Americans: The Government of Israel considers U.S. citizens who also hold Israeli citizenship or have a claim to dual nationality to be Israeli citizens for immigration and other legal purposes. For example, an American citizen child of an Israeli parent will be considered an Israeli citizen by Israeli immigration officials, even if the child was born outside of Israel, and Israeli law will apply to the child's travel to and departure from Israel. U.S. citizens who are also citizens of Israel must enter and depart Israel using their current Israeli passport. Israeli citizens are currently not permitted to enter Gaza and are generally restricted from traveling to parts of the West Bank under PA control (“Area A”). Contact the Israeli Ministry of Interior or your nearest Israeli embassy or consulate for more information on citizenship and travel restrictions for Israeli citizens.

Palestinian-Americans: U.S. citizens who have a PA identification number or whom the Government of Israel considers to have residency status in the West Bank or Gaza are advised to read this section very carefully.

Israeli authorities might consider as Palestinian anyone who has a Palestinian identification number, was born in the West Bank or Gaza, or was born in the United States but has parents or grandparents who were born or lived in the West Bank or Gaza. Any such U.S. citizen might be required by the Government of Israel to travel to Israel using a PA passport. Without the PA passport, such U.S. citizens might be barred from entering or exiting Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza, or may face serious delays at the ports of entry. At the Allenby crossing between Jordan and the West Bank, however, Palestinian-Americans may depart using PA identity cards and PA exit permits, provided they have Jordanian visas in their U.S. passports.

Individuals who hold a PA ID, as well as persons judged by Israeli authorities to have claim to a PA ID by virtue of ancestry, will be considered subject to Israeli law and to regulations that Israel applies to residents of the West Bank and Gaza, regardless of whether they also hold U.S. citizenship. In most cases, such individuals will be required by Israeli authorities to enter the West Bank via the Allenby Bridge (also known as King Hussein Bridge) crossing with Jordan, rather than via Ben Gurion International Airport, unless they obtain advance permission from an Israeli embassy or consulate for that purpose. Even if they have entered Israel via Ben Gurion Airport, these individuals may be required to depart via the Allenby Bridge. Upon arrival at any of the ports of entry, such persons may wish to consider asking Israeli immigration authorities from where they will be required to depart.

Entering Israel: An onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are required for entry. Although a passport valid for six months from the date of entering Israel is not required by the Government of Israel, airlines routinely require this and may prevent boarding if a traveler does not have at least six months validity on his or her passport. A no-charge, three-month tourist visa may be issued upon arrival and may be renewed. Travelers carrying official or diplomatic U.S. passports must obtain visas from an Israeli embassy or consulate prior to arrival. Anyone who has been refused entry, experienced difficulties with his/her status during a previous visit, overstayed the authorized duration of a previous visit, or otherwise violated the terms of his/her admission to Israel should consult the nearest Israeli embassy or consulate before attempting to return. Anyone seeking returning resident status must obtain permission from Israeli authorities before traveling. The Government of Israel at times has declined to admit U.S. citizens wishing to visit, work, or travel to the West Bank or Gaza. Persons denied entry who seek immigration court hearings to contest such denials may be detained for prolonged periods while awaiting a hearing.

Entering the Gaza Strip: The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of HAMAS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. U.S. citizens in Gaza are advised to depart immediately. Travelers who enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing from Egypt must also exit through the Rafah crossing. The Israeli authorities do not permit such travelers to exit through the Erez crossing into Israel except in situations of extreme humanitarian need. Travelers entering the Gaza Strip may not be able to depart at a time of their choosing. Delays of days or weeks are common. Private vehicles may not cross from Israel into Gaza or from Gaza into Israel. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt allows for some passenger travel, though coordination with local authorities -- which could take days or weeks to process -- is reportedly required. U.S. citizens should be aware that as a consequence of a longstanding prohibition on travel by U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. government into the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens there is extremely limited, including the provision of routine consular services. Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for updated guidance. See the latest Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza for the latest information concerning travel to the Gaza Strip.

Entering the West Bank: The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the West Bank. Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for updated guidance. See the Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza for the latest information concerning travel to the West Bank.

Israel-Jordan Crossings: The international crossing points between Israel and Jordan are the Arava crossing (Wadi al-'Arabah) in the south, near Eilat; and the Jordan River crossing (Sheikh Hussein Bridge) in the north, near Beit Shean. U.S. citizens using these two crossing points to enter either Israel or Jordan need not obtain prior visas, but they will be required to pay fees, which are subject to change.

Allenby Bridge (King Hussein Bridge): For detailed information, please refer to the Consulate General’s web site. Visas should be obtained in advance for those wanting to cross the Allenby Bridge between Jordan and the West Bank. (Note: The Government of Israel requires that Palestinian-Americans with residency status in the West Bank enter Jordan via the Allenby Bridge.) Persons with residency status in Gaza seeking to cross the Allenby Bridge from Jordan should contact the Jordanian authorities for information concerning special clearance procedures for PA ID holders before traveling to the bridge.

Procedures for all three crossings into Jordan are subject to frequent changes. Visit the Embassy of Israel web site for the most current visa information.

The Israeli Ministry of Health imposes some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to and foreign residents of Israel, and the Ministry of Health reserves the right to deny entry to visitors who declare their status. Please verify this information with the Embassy of Israel before you travel.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our customs information sheet.

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THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY:

Terrorism: Several groups operating in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State. FTOs include, but are not limited to, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Kahane Chai (Kach), and HAMAS (the Islamic Resistance Movement). It is unlawful for a U.S. citizen or a person who is located in the United States or is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide material support or resources to a designated FTO.

U.S. citizens, including tourists, students, residents, and U.S. government personnel, have been injured or killed by terrorists while in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Attacks have occurred in highly frequented shopping and pedestrian areas and on public buses. U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General and their families are prohibited from using public buses and their associated terminals. U.S. citizens should use good judgment and exercise caution when visiting public areas and using transportation facilities in order to minimize exposure to possible terrorist attacks. Strategies to minimize risk include avoiding demonstrations and large crowds; being aware of one’s immediate surroundings, especially while visiting contentious religious sites, military areas, and bus stops where large groups of soldiers congregate; and by avoiding suspicious objects.

Small clashes continue to occur along the boundary of the Gaza Strip. Rockets and mortars are still fired into Israel from Gaza, and Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes. Israel has also declared an exclusion zone inside Gaza along its boundary with Israel and has taken lethal measures against individuals who enter the exclusion zone.In the past, some rockets have traveled more than 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza and landed as far north as Yavne and Gadera and as far east as Beersheva. As a result of possible military operations by the Government of Israel in Gaza and the ever-present risk of rocket and mortar attacks into Israel from Gaza, U.S. government personnel traveling in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip boundary, to include the city of Sderot, must make prior notification to the Embassy's Regional Security Office. U.S. citizens in the area should be aware of the risks and should take note of announcements by the Government of Israel's office of Homefront Command.

Kidnapping: In the past, armed gunmen have kidnapped foreigners, including several Americans, in Gaza and the West Bank. Gunmen have sometimes used such foreign hostages as bartering tools. The threat of hostage-taking remains a concern for U.S. citizens and foreigners within the Gaza Strip. Any U.S. citizens traveling to Gaza despite the Department of State's Travel Warning should enroll with the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem prior to entry and maintain a very low profile while moving within Gaza. They should also carry the telephone numbers of the U.S. Consulate General and utilize them in the event of an emergency. The ability of the U.S. Government to assist U.S. citizens in Gaza is extremely limited. 

There have been multiple kidnappings of U.S. citizens in the Sinai over the past four years and kidnappings of foreign tourists in the Sinai have increased since January 2012. In May 2012, two U.S. citizens were kidnapped and released a day later; in July 2012, two U.S. citizens were kidnapped and released a few days later. While thus far all known foreign kidnapping victims have been released unharmed in 2012, the danger of overland travel in the Sinai is significant. Overland travel from Israel to the Sinai is strongly discouraged. U.S. government personnel are currently prohibited from traveling to the Sinai, except by air to Sharm El Sheikh. Overland travel by U.S. government (USG) employees anywhere in the Sinai outside of Sharm El Sheikh is prohibited. 

Demonstrations and Civil Unrest: U.S. citizens are advised to avoid demonstrations. Demonstrations or altercations can occur spontaneously, and all demonstrations have the potential to become violent without warning. If such disturbances occur, U.S. citizen visitors should leave the area immediately. U.S. citizens have been seriously injured in demonstrations that have turned violent. In Jerusalem's Old City, where exit routes are limited, U.S. citizen visitors should seek safe haven inside a shop or restaurant until the incident is over. Demonstrations can be particularly dangerous in areas such as checkpoints, settlements, military areas, and major thoroughfares where protesters are likely to encounter Israeli security forces. Within Israel, U.S. citizens should be aware that demonstrations in predominantly Arab areas and confrontations between Arab and Jewish residents in ethnically mixed towns can occur with little or no advance warning.

U.S. government personnel at the Embassy in Tel Aviv or the Consulate General in Jerusalem, whether stationed there or on temporary duty may be prohibited on occasion from traveling to sections of Jerusalem and parts of Israel and the West Bank, depending on prevailing security conditions.

Jerusalem: In Jerusalem, travelers should exercise caution at religious sites on holy days, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and dress appropriately when visiting the Old City and ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. Most roads into ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhoods are blocked off on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays. Assaults on secular visitors, either for being in cars or for being "immodestly dressed," continue to occur in these neighborhoods. Isolated street protests and demonstrations can occur in the predominantly Arab commercial districts of East Jerusalem (Salah Ed-Din Street and Damascus Gate areas) during periods of unrest. U.S. government employees are prohibited from entering the Old City on Fridays during the month of Ramadan due to overall congestion and security-related access restrictions. Visitors are urged to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This is especially true when entering or exiting the Old City at times of high pedestrian traffic. Some tourists have reported harassment by vendors in tourist areas of Jerusalem.

West Bank: Personal travel in the West Bank for U.S. government personnel and their families is allowed in the areas described below. They may travel to Bethlehem and Jericho. They may also transit the West Bank using only Routes 1 and 90. Personal travel is also permitted to Qumran off Route 90 by the Dead Sea and all areas south of Highway 1 and east of route 90 in the Dead Sea area.

U.S. government personnel and family members are permitted both official and personal travel on Route 443 between Modi'in and Jerusalem. All other personal travel in the West Bank, unless specifically authorized for mission-approved purposes, is prohibited.

PA security forces are currently deployed in all major cities of the West Bank, and violence in these areas has decreased markedly since a series of PA security campaigns that started in 2007.Among major West Bank cities, the level of violence is lowest in Jericho, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. Bethlehem, one of the most important religious sites to members of the Christian faith, is a significant stop for many pilgrims. U.S. government employees frequently travel in the West Bank with appropriate security measures.

Gaza: Travel to the Gaza Strip by U.S. government personnel is currently prohibited. Private U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to avoid travel to the area.

During periods of unrest, the Israeli government sometimes closes off access to the West Bank and Gaza and those areas may be placed under curfew. All persons in areas under curfew should remain indoors to avoid risking arrest or injury. U.S. citizens have been killed, seriously injured, or detained and deported as a result of encounters with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Travel restrictions may be imposed with little or no warning. Strict measures have frequently been imposed following terrorist actions, and the movement of Palestinian-Americans, both those with residency status in the West Bank or Gaza as well as foreign passport holders, has been severely impeded. Due to current limitations on travel by U.S. government employees to the West Bank and Gaza made necessary by security conditions, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens in need in these areas is considerably reduced at present.

Golan Heights: There are live land mines in many areas of the Golan Heights, so visitors should walk only on established roads or trails. Near the northern border of Israel, rocket attacks from Lebanese territory can and have occurred without warning.

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CRIME: The crime rate is moderate in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Break-ins of parked vehicles are common at beach areas, the Dead Sea, cemeteries, and national parks (especially Caesarea National Park). Car break-ins and purse snatchings in cities and cemeteries occur regularly throughout Israel. U.S. citizens should not leave their valuables (including passports) unattended, in parked vehicles or unsecured in hotels.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law. 

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VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport.
  • Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
  • Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, we can contact family members or friends.

Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Israel is 100.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in the West Bank and Gaza is 101.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States or to the following Government of Israel links (in English):

Israel National Police

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Public Security

The Government of Israel provides assistance to victims of terrorist acts. Please contact the National Insurance Institute for more information.

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CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could land you immediately in jail. Penalties for breaking the law can be more serious than those in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Israeli or PA laws, even unknowingly, may be arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking illegal drugs in Israel and PA-administered areas are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. 

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained in Israel. If you are arrested in the West Bank or Gaza, you should use whatever means of communication available to alert the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem of your situation.

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Video cameras and other electronic items must be declared upon entry to Israel. In the past, Israeli customs and security officials have seized electronic equipment at ports of entry and prior to boarding aircraft; the equipment is usually returned, but not always expeditiously, and equipment has sometimes been returned damaged. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC, or one of Israel’s consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. Definitive information on customs requirements for the PA is not available.

Arrests and Detentions: U.S. citizens arrested by the Israel National Police (INP) and charged with crimes are entitled to legal representation provided by the Israeli government and to consular notification and visitation, per Vienna Convention agreement. In some cases, there are significant delays between the time of arrest and the time when the INP notifies the Embassy or Consulate General and grants consular access. This is particularly true in the arrest of dual American-Israeli and American-Palestinian citizens. The notification procedure may be expedited if the arrested U.S. citizen shows a U.S. passport to the police and asks the police or prison authority to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. When access to a detained U.S. citizen is delayed or denied, the U.S. government can protest the lack of consular access to the Israeli government.

U.S. citizens arrested by Israeli security forces for security offenses and U.S. citizens arrested by Israeli authorities in the West Bank or Gaza for criminal or security offenses may be prevented from communicating with lawyers, family members, or consular officers for lengthy periods. The U.S. Consulate General and the U.S. Embassy sometimes are not notified of such arrests or are not notified in a timely manner. Consular access to the arrested individual is frequently delayed. On occasion, arrestees have been subject to mistreatment during interrogation and pressured to sign statements. Under local law, arrestees may be detained for up to six months without charges. Youths over the age of 14 have been detained and tried as adults. The U.S. government may formally protest any report of mistreatment to the relevant authorities.

U.S. citizens arrested by PA security forces in the West Bank for crimes are entitled to legal representation and consular notification and access. PA security forces normally notify the Consulate General of non-security-related arrests for criminal offenses, but not always in a timely manner. Consular access is normally granted within four days. This procedure may be expedited if the arrested U.S. citizen shows a U.S. passport to the police or asks the police to contact the U.S. Consulate General.

Palestinian-Americans living in the West Bank may be detained or arrested by the IDF. In such instances, the Government of Israel may not recognize the detainee's U.S. citizenship and will instead consider the arrested person a Palestinian. In such cases the U.S. Consulate General may not be notified.

Dual Palestinian-American citizens arrested by PA security forces in the West Bank for security offenses may be prevented from communicating with lawyers, family members, or consular officers for lengthy periods. In addition, they may be held in custody for protracted periods without formal charges or before being brought before a judge for an arrest extension. The PA often does not notify the U.S. Consulate General of such arrests in a timely manner, and consular access to arrestees is occasionally delayed. Since HAMAS seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, its Executive Forces (EF) have dominated security matters there. The U.S. government has no contact with the EF.

Dual Nationality: Israeli citizens naturalized in the United States retain their Israeli citizenship, and children born in the United States to Israeli parents usually acquire both U.S. and Israeli nationality at birth. Israeli citizens, including dual nationals, are subject to Israeli laws requiring service in Israel's armed forces, as well as other laws pertaining to passports and nationality. American-Israeli dual nationals of military age, including females, who do not wish to serve in the Israeli armed forces should contact the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., to learn more about an exemption or deferment from Israeli military service and should obtain written confirmation of military service exemption or deferment before traveling to Israel. Without this exemption or deferment document, such dual nationals may not be able to depart Israel without completing military service or may be subject to criminal penalties for failure to serve. Israeli citizens, including dual nationals, must enter and depart Israel on their Israeli passports, and Israeli authorities may require persons whom they consider to have acquired Israeli nationality at birth to obtain an Israeli passport prior to departing Israel.

Bearers of PA passports or identity numbers who have become naturalized U. S. citizens are considered by the Israeli government to retain their Palestinian nationality, and Israeli authorities will view them as Palestinians. Palestinian-Americans whom the Government of Israel considers residents of the West Bank or Gaza may face certain travel restrictions (see "Entry/Exit Requirements for U.S. Citizens," above). These individuals are subject to restrictions on movements between Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza and within the West Bank and Gaza that are imposed by the Israeli government on all Palestinians. Some Jerusalem ID holders who hold residency or citizenship elsewhere may encounter problems retaining their Jerusalem residence status. During periods of heightened security concern, these travel restrictions can be onerous. Palestinian-American residents of Jerusalem are normally required to use laissez-passers (travel documents issued by the Israeli government) that contain re-entry permits approved by the Israeli Ministry of Interior for any out-of-country travel. U.S. citizens who are residents of East Jerusalem and hold blue Israeli ID cards may also enter and exit Israel using their U.S. passports, provided they have a prior re-entry stamp in their passports from the Israeli Interior Ministry. All U.S. citizens must enter and exit the United States on their U.S. passports.

Court Jurisdiction: Civil courts in Israel actively exercise their authority to bar certain individuals, including nonresidents, from leaving the country until monetary and other legal claims against them are resolved. Israel's religious courts exercise jurisdiction over all citizens and residents of Israel in cases of marriage, divorce, child custody and child support. In some cases, U.S. citizens who entered Israel as tourists have become defendants in divorce or custody cases filed by their spouses in Israeli religious courts. These U.S. citizens have been detained in Israel for prolonged periods while the Israeli courts consider whether the individuals have sufficient ties to Israel to establish jurisdiction. Such visitors should be aware that they might be subject to involuntary and prolonged stays in Israel if a case is filed against them in a religious court, even if their marriage took place in the United States and regardless of whether their spouse is present in Israel.

Purchases of Property: U.S. citizens who buy or lease property in the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza may find their ownership challenged by people earlier displaced from those lands. Prospective property buyers should always seek legal advice before buying in these areas. The possible establishment of a Palestinian state may have legal consequences for property owners in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.

Accessibility: While in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from that in the United States. Israeli law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, and access to health care or in the provision of other state services. Legislation mandates access to buildings and transportation, as well as accommodations for persons with disabilities in services and the work place. The government enforces the laws with limited success. Societal discrimination and lack of accessibility persist in employment and housing. Television stations include subtitles or sign language, and the courts accommodate testimony from persons with intellectual disabilities or mental illness. The law mandates accessibility to urban public transportation but not interurban buses. Most train stations maintain access for persons with disabilities; however, many buses still do not have such access.

Tourists will find restaurants, foot paths, and public transportation less accessible than in the United States.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Modern medical care and medicines are available in Israel. A few hospitals in Israel and most hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza, however, fall below Western standards. It is recommended that visitors have health insurance. Travelers can find information in English about emergency medical facilities and after-hours pharmacies in the Jerusalem Post and the English-language edition of the Ha'aretz newspaper, or refer to the Embassy’s or Consulate General’s medical lists.

You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

  • Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
  • Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?
  • Will it cover hospitalization in a mental health facility?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.

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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Israeli roads and highways tend to be crowded, especially in urban areas. Aggressive driving is commonplace, and many drivers fail to maintain safe following distances or signal before changing lanes or making turns. Overtaking on high-speed undivided two-lane roads is common and results in frequent accidents. Drivers are also prone to stop suddenly on roads without warning, especially in the right lane. Drivers should use caution, as Israel has a high rate of fatalities from automobile accidents. 

U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem and their families have been prohibited from using public buses and light rail networks. (Please review the earlier section entitled Terrorism under the section Threats to Safety and Security.)

The Government of Israel requires that all passenger car occupants use their seat belts at all times and that headlights be used during all intercity travel, both day and night, during winter. As of January 1, 2006, all drivers are required to carry fluorescent vests in the car with them at all times, and they are required to wear these vests whenever they get out of their cars to make repairs, change tires, etc. If a vehicle is stopped for a traffic violation and it does not contain a fluorescent vest, the driver will be fined. These vests can be purchased for a nominal price in all local gas stations. While cellular handset phone use is prohibited while driving, hands-free units are authorized.

West Bank and Gaza: Crowded roads are common in the West Bank and Gaza. During periods of heightened tension, cars with Israeli license plates have been stoned and fired upon. Emergency services may be delayed by the need for Palestinian authorities to coordinate with Israeli officials. Seat belt use is required and drivers may not drink alcohol. Individuals involved in accidents resulting in death or injury may be detained by police pending an investigation.

Please refer to our road safety page for more information. We also suggest that you visit the website of the national tourist office and the Israeli Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Israel’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

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CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on inter-country adoption and international parental child abduction.

                                                                       

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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza dated June 22, 2012 to update the section on Threats to Safety and Security. 

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