- Wifi is easily accessible in most homes, cafes, hostels/hotels, and restaurants.
- Palestinian Sim Card (app. 10 NIS):
- There are two main Phone Companies: Jawal and Wataniya (Jawal recharge locations are more common so that is what I personally use)
- You can purchase a sim card from any Jawal Store which are very common throughout all cities and villages (you can ask anyone on the street where to find one).
- Once you purchase a sim card you can load it with credit (min. 10 NIS). You can load credit from almost any dukan/small grocery store:
- Simply go into the Dukan tell them how much credit you would like to purchase and give them your Palestinian phone number
- Typically 10-15 NIS is enough credit for me for a month, but it depends how many phone calls and texts you will make because it charges you per minute and per text message.
- Data: 3G data is available in the West Bank since about 2017, it gets the job done but is not as fast as many foreigners may be used to.
- you can also purchase a data plan through Jawwal or Wataniya:
- Jawwal Package #1: 2.5 GB of Data (for one month): 23 NIS.
- Jawwal Package #2: 18 GB of Data (for one month): 50 NIS.
- Cash Society: Israel and the West Bank both use the same currency (an effect of the Occupation), so I suggest coming with some NIS (New Israeli Shekels) or getting some at the airport just to get you started (note:the airport currency exchange like everywhere is a rip-off).
- The West Bank is a cash society so you will need cash (shekels) with you at all times (thankfully pickpocketing is a pretty uncommon occurrence here).
- Credit Cards: can be used at fancier hotels and restaurants but do not expect this to be the case unless you confirm this in advance.
- ATMS are widely accessible in cities and villages, but of course make sure to set travel notices with your banks before coming.
- the Bank of Palestine is typically best for small withdrawals (they charge a fee per 50 shekels), and the Arab Bank is best for large withdrawals (they charge a flat fee).
- Reference our “Budgeting” page for the general prices you should expect while traveling.
- There is government (Palestinian Authority) supply of water and electricity in most of Area A and B. In Area C the Palestinian Authority is not allowed to provide these services (according to Oslo), and many of these communities have to secure their own water and electricity (in the form of solar panels).
- Unless you work with an organization that is based out of an Area C location (which is unusual), you will not have face many issues with water or electricity supply.
- Water: the largest issue for foreigners is water because most of us are unaccustomed to having a limited water supply. Water is received in the form of water tanks which sit on top of each building.
- These tanks are expensive, and refilled every 1-3 weeks. You should do your best to conserve water wherever you stay since it is quite expensive, but also poorer families will often have less water tanks which means it is possible you run out of water.
- In the case that you run out of water, you will just buy bottled water to get you through until the next refill.
- Electricity outages are very uncommon in Areas A and B and should not be a concern.
- Note: in ALL of the West Bank you CANNOT flush toilet paper or anything else down the toilet. Water pressure, supply, and the pipe/sewage system cannot handle anything being flushed and if you do this you may cause the bathroom to flood.
- There will always be a trash bin in the bathroom where you should dispose of toilet paper.