Frequently Asked Questions
-
In addition to clothing, consider the following:
Electrical appliances. The power supply is single phase 220 volts at 50 Hertz. Most power sockets have three pin holes, but many will work with double-pin European plugs. Shavers, traveling irons and other small appliances may need both transformers and adaptor plugs. Check your appliances; Laptops, mobile phones and other equipment come equipped to handle dual voltages, and you will only need an adaptor plug.
A notebook, pen, highlighter, camera, etc.
Your passport along with a photocopy of the front page which you’ll keep in your suitcase (leave another copy at home for a friend to FAX or email, if needed).
Prescription medications (enough for the entire trip along with a copy of your prescriptions in case you lose your medicine). Local pharmacies are well-equipped.
A backpack or small bag for day trips.
A deep curiosity, an open mind and heart, a willingness to be flexible!
Before you pack, check your airline’s baggage weight requirements, especially notes about carry-on luggage. Should you forget something, you can purchase almost anything you need during your stay, including clothing, cosmetics, hygiene products, and even prescription medicine. (again, bring a copy of your prescription).
Additional optional suggestions:
Hat
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Masks
Water bottle
First aid materials
-
Temperatures can be quite high in summer, so bring light, breathable materials (but nothing see-through!).
Though there are exceptions, clothing in Palestine tends to be more modest than in most places in North America. You won’t see a lot of people wearing shorts or tank tops. Bring at least a couple pairs of full-length pants (not capris), and a few long-sleeved shirts. (This will also help protect you from sun and mosquitos.) T-shirts are ok otherwise, as long as they are not too low-cut and do not expose your belly or back. If you would like, you may bring a skirt for religious visits/practice.
A few of our meetings might be more “official” or formal than others. No need to wear a suit or fancy dress, but we also don’t want to look like we’ve just come in from the beach.
Bring good walking shoes, and a light jacket for (hopefully) cool evenings.
-
We will be staying in the same hotel in Jerusalem most nights, with the possibility of staying overnight in other locations depending upon the itinerary. Most rooms will be double rooms. If you have requested a single room we will try to accommodate this, though it will increase costs by about $30-$40 per night. We will be in touch about paying this difference if you are able to do so.
-
For the most part, we will be traveling together in a bus with a yellow (Israeli) license plate with Palestinian drivers (who have Jerusalem ID or Israeli citizenship). At times we may also take public Palestinian buses or shared taxis.
-
Many places will have free wifi, so you do not necessarily need a SIM card. If you want to have more reliable service or plan to stay in the country before or after the delegation, you might want a SIM card. Make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave home, and when you arrive there are plenty of phone stores close to where we’ll stay in Jerusalem.
You can get a SIM card with unlimited service for just 60 NIS (about $16), and the store can help you install it. A Palestinian company like Jawwal will work well in the West Bank but have limited service in Jerusalem and inside Israel. Israeli companies that tend to work best in the West Bank are 019 and Cellcom, though even those can be spotty. They should work well in Jerusalem.
SIM cards are also available at the airport but cost more money there.
-
Your basic needs (all food, transportation, lodging, tours, tips, etc.) will be covered by the trip fee (with the exception of border/visa fees if coming through Amman–see below). You only need to bring what you plan to spend. You may want to have a couple hundred additional dollars with you, more if you plan to stay for a while or buy a lot of gifts. There will be a few opportunities to purchase Palestinian gifts from local shops. ATMs are also available at times, though you can’t always count on it. Do not bring traveler’s checks–they are hard to cash. Let your bank and credit card company know in advance that you are traveling.
-
Israel is implementing a new system beginning August 1, 2024 in which even citizens from visa-exempt countries must have travel approval in advance. If you are not an Israeli citizen and have not yet applied for this approval, please do so here. Upon arrival you will be issued a visa on a piece of paper (they will not stamp your passport). You need to keep that piece of paper with your passport at all times and use it to exit the country.
The quickest way to travel from Ben Gurion airport to Jerusalem is by the new high speed train line (King David line) which takes about 25 minutes and goes every half hour to Yitzhak Navon Station in Jerusalem. From there it's a 15-min bus ride to Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem or alternatively you could hail a taxi. The total cost to get from the airport to our meeting spot should not be much more than $20.
-
Israel is implementing a new system beginning August 1, in which even citizens from visa-exempt countries must have travel approval in advance. If you are not an Israeli citizen and have not yet applied for this approval, please do so here.
If you are landing in Amman, you will be issued a single-entry Jordanian visa upon arrival. If you are flying both in and out of Jordan, you will need a dual-entry or multiple-entry visa. You can save time and money by purchasing it online in advance. Omar is looking into whether visas may be purchased as a group–we will let you know.
Dual entry visas cost 60 JD ($85 US). In addition, you will pay Jordanian and Israeli exit taxes and bus fees at Allenby Bridge that total a little over $100. Since you will be paying for these costs individually, if this is a hardship for you, you can consider lowering the amount that you reimburse Sabeel for your plane ticket.
If you are arriving on August 25, Sabeel will provide your transportation to a hotel, and the hotel cost is covered in the trip cost. Look for a driver holding a sign that says "Sabeel" or your name. We will try to use the same taxi for all people traveling within 30 minutes of each other, so there should be little waiting. The cost, including the tip, is covered by Sabeel.
If you are arriving on August 26, depending on the timing, Sabeel may also be able to pick you up to get you to the bridge with the rest of the group. After we see when everyone’s flights are coming in, we will coordinate this piece.
If you are asked by Jordanian security about the purpose of your visit, you can feel free to say that you are visiting Palestine/Israel.
-
Palestinians, in general, put a high value on welcoming guests, and are supportive of all people who are open to and come with the intention of hearing about their situation. Expect to be welcomed and well cared for.
Experiences with Israeli authorities vary. If you are a U.S., Canadian, or European passport holder, you can expect to avoid harassment in most encounters with Israeli soldiers, police, and border officials, unless you are actively interfering with their actions (we will discuss when this is appropriate or not in the group).
As is the case in most places, there is the possibility that international travelers will be exposed to sexual harassment by members of either community; this is not considered appropriate and does not need to be tolerated.
-
As mentioned above, Palestinians will welcome guests, especially people who are open to hearing about their situation. This may be even more true for guests who are perceived to share a similar identity or who have experienced similar types of oppression.
Experiences with Israeli authorities vary. If you are Palestinian or are perceived to be Palestinian (or have an Arab or Muslim name), you may experience harassment upon entry through Israeli-controlled borders. We are happy to have a more in depth conversation about this with you and prepare you to the best of our ability.
While we are traveling together as a group in Palestine, more often than not our group is treated as one, and we are usually able to avoid scrutiny and harassment at checkpoints and in other similar situations. If you are traveling through the same checkpoints alone you may have a slightly different experience. Again, we are happy to talk with you about both the legality and practicality of different kinds of treatment you may receive due to your race, religion, nationality, or anything perceived to be associated with any of these identities.
-
Gender norms vary widely in Palestine, and being conscious of this is important. You’ll see people interacting in a number of ways, but here we’ll just cover a few basic things and prepare you for the most traditional situations you might find yourself in. The most important thing is to follow the cues of your hosts.
A typical greeting between people of the same gender (whether men or women) is a handshake and a kiss on each cheek (there can be more kisses, depending on how well you know the person and/or how much they like kissing). Cross-gender touching is not very common in some parts of Palestine, while in other places, you will see it on occasion. If someone of another gender reaches for your hand to shake, that is totally fine and you can shake it. But you may not want to reach out first, because some religious and traditional individuals refrain from cross-gender touching and might be put in an awkward position if they are not comfortable shaking your hand, but not comfortable refusing either.
You can feel free to be affectionate with young boys and girls (pre-pubescent) across gender lines. There is a lot of open physical affection for children in Palestinian society.
What we described in this answer is by no means fully representative of Palestinian society and you will see for yourself the variation and fluidity in some of the areas we will be visiting and communities we will be joining. Generally speaking, you will observe quickly what norms of relations are in every situation we are in, and will probably find that they are not so hard to get accustomed to.
-
Palestinian society is diverse in attitudes about gender and sexuality. We will be visiting communities where gender and sexuality is a topic open for discussion and we will be visiting communities with traditional norms and attitudes where sexuality is seen as an entirely private topic. In those cases, many of us have chosen not to speak about our sexuality with our Palestinian hosts, whether we are straight, LGBTQ, or what have you, even when we have felt it was important to come out to our international comrades.
Palestinian society can sometimes feel quite gendered–spaces can often feel like men’s spaces or women’s spaces. As internationals, we do have some degree of flexibility in this regard, and most of our group meetings and interactions will not be divided by gender lines. If we anticipate being in a particularly gendered situation, we’ll make sure to check in with our trans participants in advance to come up with a plan that feels right.
The decision about how or when you want to reveal information about yourself is a highly individual one; it is important to be clear with yourself about your reasons for sharing or withholding information, and how those reasons relate to your reasons for being in Palestine.
-
Your safety and well-being are top priorities. While we cannot guarantee entry or absolute security, we strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all throughout your trip. However, it must be recognized that some measure of risk may necessarily be involved in solidarity and accompaniment work. Here’s what you need to know:
Sabeel delegations are carefully and strategically curated and led by known and vetted individuals and organizations, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all participants should all adhere to the guidance and trust the experience of local leadership.
The general population centers around Palestine/Israel are most of the time safe. Most visitors will discover our friendly people, famous for our hospitality. However, roaming any foreign city at night or alone, without proper knowledge can be a risk. It is advisable to stay in central areas, along taxi and bus routes, and to not travel solo after dark.
The reality of living in Palestine/Israel is that nothing is certain and depends on the whim of the soldiers in charge on any given day, and daily life revolves around external control of movement, accessibility, and even safety. While we can offer general guidelines to avoid the more predictable incursions or protests, nothing is actually predictable, preventable, or within our control. We live here, with our families, loved ones, and friends, and invite you to come be with us in our homeland.
-
Yes. We will discuss such measures as part of the orientation process.