Arrival Information for Palestine/ IPYL workcamp
How to get to Palestine/ workcamp meeting point:
1. If you are coming by plane to Tel AVIV:
From the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv, the easiest (and cheapest) way to get to the meeting point is to take a shared taxi (Sherout in Hebrew) from the airport to Jerusalem. These taxies (vans) are parking directly outside the main door of the airport. They work 24 hours and cost around 50 New Israeli Shekel –ILS- (about 13 €). A Sherout is a white van or mini-bus, which normally takes 9 passengers. If the taxi is not full, you will have to wait. It takes about 50-60 minutes to get from Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv) airport to Jerusalem (depending in the traffic situation). This is the most convenient and the safest way to travel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. We don't advise you to take public buses.
The Israeli driver of the Sherouts will drop you where you want in the way to Jerusalem on in Jerusalem (some drivers, though, might not agree to drive you to East Jerusalem: Damascus Gate or Herod's Gate). You can ask the driver to drop you at Damascus Gate (by the ancient wall of the Old City of Jerusalem), or at the closest point possible (New Gate- another ancient Gate of the old city). Once you are there, do not enter the old city. Outside, in the street opposite to Damascus Gate, you will find the Bus station choose Bus number 231 that transports to “Bet Jala-Bethlehem” ask the driver to drop you at the very last station near to the traffic lights, (called Bab Ezqaq Junction), which will be our meeting point, one of our local volunteer will be waiting there to pick you up to the camp and drive you to the site/accommodation. The drive from Jerusalem to the meeting point is around 30-40 minutes (depending on the traffic situation of your arrival time). (The journey from east Jerusalem to Bethlehem cost about 8-9 NIS= 2 euros). This bus works only till 7 PM.
2. If coming through Jordanian borders:
When arriving at Amman International airport, you have to buy a visa (around 60-70 Euros) before passport control. Usually this visa is valid for 6 months and allows you to cross to Palestine (Israel) from any crossing point between both countries.
There are 3 crossing passages between both countries (Jordan and Israel) one in the north called; Sheikh Hussien (near the sea of Galilee) and one in the south called Aqaba crossing near the Red Sea. Both are touristic crossings in both direction (but it will cost you some extra money to cross- entrance tax/visa). From the borders take bus to get to Jerusalem and then follow the instructions as above.
The third crossing is called KING HUSSIEN Crossing (in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea and takes you to Jericho city) which is the easiest and closer to the meeting point. Once crossed the borders, you will find Sherut (service small vans for 6- 9 passengers) with yellow plates. These vans take you straight to Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem and then follow the instructions to Bet Jala as above. Please note that Jordan charges 60-70 Euros/ passport as visa cost when you land at their airports.
Meeting Point:
Place: last bus station near to the traffic lights, (called Bab Ezqaq junction)
Date: xxxxx
Time of Meeting: xxx PM
Those arriving later than this meeting time on that day should inform us in advance and we will arrange another pick up for you. Please use the same route as above unless we told you differently.
Visas and Arrival:
Citizen from most western countries can obtain visa on the spot at any Israeli border point. But, please, check it beforehand with the Israeli Embassy in your country to see if this is still the case or if there has been any change. When you arrive to the Israeli border, the Border officials could question you and could search your luggage and sometimes yourself in an exhaustive way. This is normal for Israeli security procedures, no need to be paranoid. Usually they do that for people who want to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. In all cases, it’s up to the volunteer to what to tell the security, but the best is that they tell the truth; to say that you are coming to take part in a voluntary work in the city of Bethlehem and celebrate Christmas in the this holy city with an organization called IPYL. Please always remember that you are not doing anything illegal at all. The border officer will scan your passport and handle you a small piece of paper, which is actually the visa. Please keep it safe inside your passport during all the time you are in the country and don’t lose it.
For emergencies and if need any help while travelling, you can contact any of the following numbers:
Adli DAANA: Programs Manager
Mobile: + 972 599265490 (also available on WhatsApp)
Yazan Madieh:+ Workcamps coordinator:
Mobile: +970569318006 (also available on WhatsApp)
IPYL Land line: from inside the country: 02- 2255999
From outside the country: 00970 2 2255999
Or write to: info@ipyl.org
looking forward to seeing you in Palestine soon.