Israel Health and Safety

Let's be honest: in terms of personal safety Israel is not Switzerland. However, while there is an inherent risk in any travel these days, your chances of getting caught up in an act of terror in Israel are actually extremely low. Still, it's always a good idea to play it safe, plan ahead and get advice from locals on the ground.

For obvious reasons Israel has some of the most stringent security policies in the world. Suspiciously parked vehicles, abandoned packages and the vaguest rumour of a threat are all taken extremely seriously and dealt with swiftly by the police. When entering bus or rail terminals, shopping malls, and just about everywhere else your bags will be searched - and in some cases X-rayed. You will also be checked with a metal detector or body search and probably asked the question: 'Do you have a gun?' Flashing a foreign passport can quicken the process. Roads into most West Bank towns are fixed with army roadblocks where you'll need to show a passport and answer questions about your reason for travel. Similarly, new arrivals at Ben-Gurion airport should be prepared for lengthy questioning and bag searches. As annoying as they may be, such measures have thwarted countless terrorist attacks and aren't likely to be relaxed any time soon.

Suicide bombers in Israel and IDF attacks in the West Bank and Gaza have been a part of life for 20 years and there are still no signs of letting up. In Israel there has been a noticeable drop in suicide attacks since 2005, but despite this you need to remain vigilant of suspicious people (or packages), especially when travelling by public bus. If you are travelling in remote areas of the Golan you also need to be wary of land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Register with your embassy for updates by email and pay attention to news in the local media.