Israel and the Palestinian Territories Tours & Vacations

Israel and the Palestinian Territories are a crossroads of cultures and ethnicities, so there are many annual events marking important dates in religious and cultural calendars. Jerusalem, also known as the Holy Land, is touted as the historical and religious centre of the Western world, with followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam all holding the city sacred.

As you would expect from such a destination, there are daily displays of devotion and pilgrimage that happen on the streets and in public arenas, as well as a wide range of things to see. Take note though – it’s important to know of any traditions or events that occur which might affect your travel plans.

Shabbat

Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is a weekly day of rest recognised by the religious and non-religious Jewish populations, as well as some others across the region. The resting period lasts from 20-30 minutes before sundown on Friday to an hour after sundown on Saturday night, and depending on which part of the country you are in, you will notice different levels of impact on public transport and businesses.

In Tel Aviv, for example, Friday night is one of the city’s busiest nights, so you shouldn’t be too affected. In Jerusalem, however, many restaurants close until Saturday night, and your hotel front desk may close for Friday evening and the next day as workers may be observing Shabbat. If you find yourself in Jerusalem and parts of Galilee during Shabbat, ensure that you have researched places to eat and things to see that will be open and available over this time. In other parts of the country, like the North Coast, Negev Desert, Dead Sea and Tel Aviv, your stay should be mainly unaffected; however, it’s best to have a back-up plan just in case your preferences aren’t open.

It is important to understand how Shabbat could affect your visit, as you may find yourself without many restaurant or cafe options, or having to walk or take an expensive taxi (if you can find one) to get around.

Ramadan

During the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar (the Gregorian, or ‘Western’, calendar equivalent dates of which change each year) Ramadan is observed by Muslims across the world as a time of spiritual rejuvenation. For this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset – refraining from eating and drinking during daylight hours. The period of Eid marks the end of fasting with three days of feasting and celebration. For the duration of Ramadan, expect almost all restaurants and some other establishments in Muslim areas to be closed during daylight hours, with the exception of hotels.

Ancient history

The roots of Israel extend back thousands of years, and many stories of origin stem from the Hebrew Bible and trace back to Abraham, who is considered both the father of Judaism (through his son Isaac) and Islam (through his son Ishmael). Descendants of Abraham are said to have been held captive in Egypt for centuries before settling in Canaan, located where some of Israel and the Palestinian Territories’ contested regions are today. These sites, and especially Jerusalem, have been besieged and ruled by many empires over the centuries of their history – Babylonian, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, among others.

20th century

Fast-forward to the 20th century, when Great Britain supported an establishment of a permanent Jewish state in the region then recognised as Palestine. British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour stated intentions to set up a ‘national home’ in Palestine for Jewish populations under the Balfour Declaration. In late 1947, the United Nations approved a plan for the partition of Palestine. On 14 May 1948, Israel proclaimed its independence under the rule of the head of the Jewish Agency, David Ben-Gurion. For Palestinian Arabs, this meant a mass exodus from what was to become Israel.

Today

Since then, as over many points during the region’s history, there has been a series of conflicts regarding control in the territories. Currently, parts of Israel and the Palestinian Territories are still contested, and complex political relationships exist in the country to navigate administration over certain regions, whether the responsibility of Israel, Palestine, or a combination of both. Israel has peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt, but not some other Middle Eastern neighbours, so border crossing can be complicated.

These regions are full of delightful things to taste. Whether you’re fine-dining in Tel Aviv or having a street-side snack at Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, there's no shortage of Middle Eastern cuisine to keep your mouth watering.

Falafel

Found in food stands on street corners and in markets all around the country, falafel is touted as Israel’s national dish and, despite competing stories of where they were invented, these snacks are now a staple in Israeli cuisine. Made from fava beans, chickpeas or a combination of both, enjoy them as either part of a Middle Eastern mezze, or stuffed into a pita with hummus, tahini, pickles and salad.

Shakshuka

Shakshuka accurately translates as ‘a mixture’, describing a dish of eggs baked in a spiced tomato, chilli, pepper and garlic sauce and served in a traditional pan. Every street food vendor or shakshuka master believes they’ve got the best recipe, so it’s a good idea to taste a broad sample in order to decide for yourself!

Hummus

Can anything be more perfect? This silky chickpea dip is a pita’s best friend, and can be lathered on nearly anything and everything, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. To take things up a notch, order a hummus masabacha (topped with chickpeas, paprika, lemon and tahini) or hummus kawarma (topped with lamb mince, onions and parsley).

Shawarma

The Greeks have got souvlaki, the Turkish have got doner, but in these parts, it’s called shawarma. This type of local kebab is all about the traditional spices used and the ingredients that get stuffed inside – think hummus, salad, pickled turnips and tahini. An easy on-the-go lunch.

Sabich

Obviously, many Middle Eastern classic dishes are hard to trace back their origin; however, sabich is one that definitely finds its roots as Jewish Israeli. Brought here in the 1950s by Jewish immigrants from Iraq, this pita stuffed with fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs, salad, hummus and tahini is now one of the country’s most popular street food dishes. Sabich is often topped off with a drizzle of amba – a spicy sweet mango chutney.

Lechem bread

If you haven’t realised already, Israeli cuisine is big on bread. In particular, lechem bread plays not only an important role in the country’s diet, but is also of religious significance in Jewish cultures – often breaking two loaves of this bread signifies the start of a meal during Shabbat.

Knafeh

A sweet dessert found all around the Middle East, knafeh is a cheese pastry soaked in sugar syrup, often flavoured with rosewater or orange blossom. Perfect for an after-dinner snack, or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Wine

This part of the world is also known for growing wine grapes. The biggest wine-growing region, the Sharon Plain near the Mount Carmel range, boasts perfect conditions – a temperate climate and sediment-rich soils on slopes that face the Mediterranean Sea. Visit Zichron Yaakov, a town in this region, on an Intrepid Real Food Adventure for a day of wine tasting.

With beaches and chalk cliffs on the Mediterranean coastline, parched desert in the north, mountains (and more desert!) in the south and fertile valleys in the centre, Israel and the Palestinian Territories boast an astounding amount of diverse landscapes to travel through in a small area, meaning you can bounce from one geographic wonder to another with minimal travel time.  

Sharing borders and cultures with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the people here live in vastly different ways – from the modern, upwardly-mobile population of faced-paced Tel Aviv to the relative simplicity of village life in the mountains.

From the ultra-modern shopping malls of Tel Aviv to the laneway markets of Jerusalem’s Old City, there’s no shortage of shopping spots in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. In Tel Aviv and some parts of Jerusalem, expect to see some big global brands, as well as local favourites, such as Hamashbir and Castro.

During your time here, you’ll have opportunities to walk around and shop at local markets. For purchases under roughly USD 8 (ISL 30), it's best to carry small denominations of currency, as stallholders or retailers likely won’t accept credit cards as payment.

Outside of markets and Jerusalem’s Old City, bartering is usually not accepted, and most stores have fixed prices for their products. If you do have any questions about shopping at markets or stores during your time in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, ask your group leader who’ll be able to let you in on the dos and don’ts.

Many Jewish, Muslim and some Christian faith-based public holidays are celebrated with events and festivities throughout the year. See the what public holidays are celebrated in Israel and the Palestinian Territories below for a list of the major celebrations.

Independence Day

Observed in late April or early May, with the date changing to avoid clashing with observation of Shabbat, this celebration is both to commemorate Yom Hazikaron – the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day – and the day the State of Israel was established in 1948. During this time, celebrations include fireworks, concerts, family meetings and picnics, and displays of national symbols, including the Israeli flag.

Purim

Purim is a joyous holiday in the Jewish calendar and remembers the story of Esther who helped save Jews living in Persia from extermination. Costumes and masks are worn, baskets of goods are gifted to friends and family, and a festive meal is had with loved ones.

Tel Aviv Pride Week

Tel Aviv Pride is touted as one of the most lively and interesting Pride celebrations in the world – with colourful costumes, posters, slogans and food all week, culminating in the Pride Week Parade that attracts upwards of 200,000 attendees. Revellers come from around the world to celebrate the week-long festival in Tel Aviv.

Sukkot

Also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles, this Jewish festival spans over a week, usually held in September, and comes five days after Yom Kippur. It is one of many festivals throughout the year where Jewish people are commanded to visit pilgrimage sites.

Passover

Passover is a Jewish celebration over seven days to commemorate the flight of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew term ‘Pesach’, meaning to pass over, is a biblical reference to Moses instructing Israelites to mark their doors with lamb’s blood so that the spirit of the Lord would ‘pass over’ their houses and spare their first-born sons from the last of ten plagues visited upon the ancient Egyptians. Jewish families remember this period by gathering, eating unleavened bread, and performing ritual celebrations on the first (Passover Seder) and last (Mimouna) days.