Am I Allowed to enter Palestine with an Israeli Visa? Over 420 million people speak Arabic making it the 6th most spoken language worldwide. It is hardly surprising then that many internationals want to learn or improve their Arabic by living and studying in a Middle Eastern country. In order to learn faster and practice the language daily with native speakers the best situation is to be in the Arab world practicing what you learn every day.
Palestine is one of the best destinations to learn Arabic as you can study either formal Arabic (Fusha) or spoken Arabic (Ammiya) with qualified teachers who make your time learning enjoyable, practical, and productive leading to much quicker results.
Can I enter Palestine with a Palestinian visa?
Unfortunately, you cannot since Palestine is unable to provide entry visas to those who come to visit. Israeli authorities control all the borders that lead to Palestine whether you arrive through the Jordan-Israel border or Ben-Gurion International Airport. At both of these entry points you will get an Israeli visa for up to 3 months.
Am I allowed to study Arabic or enter Palestine with an Israeli visa then?
Yes, you can since it is the only way to enter Palestine. Israeli authorities are fully aware that many internationals come to Palestine to study Arabic and thus they will give you a tourist visa for up to three months.
Will Israel deny me a visa if I study Arabic or enter Palestine?
No, the authorities will grant you a visa to study Arabic or enter Palestine. However, to avoid any complications we recommend that you tell the authorities, if questioned, that while you are visiting Israel it is your intention to visit a number of well-known landmarks. You may be asked to name a few places you want to visit, so be prepared.
Those who are denied a visa are those who come to Palestine to participate in political activities such as demonstrations.
Where can I study Arabic in Palestine?
In Palestine, there are a number of educational institutions that provide Arabic courses to internationals. For example, the Excellence Center, which is located in Hebron (southern Palestine) offers Arabic intensive courses to all levels (beginner-advanced) using interactive teaching methods. If you would like to find out more, click on the following link: https://excellencenter.org/study-arabic-in-palestine/
Palestine presents an optimal learning environment for studying Arabic as you have the opportunity to learn from native speaking teachers giving you the chance to learn faster and practice what you learn with the Palestinian people.
