Palestine Much Safer Than portrayed: One of the most burning questions on one’s mind before traveling to Palestine is inevitably going to be “is it safe?”. Palestine has long been a topic seen on the news for all the wrong reasons. Images of violence, protests and other forms of conflict regularly appear on our TV screens and on the front pages of newspapers.

There is little doubt that Palestine is one of the most controversial regions in the world, and has been plagued by violence for over 50 years, however, one’s opinion of the region may be altered by actually visiting the country to experience it first-hand.

Safety in Palestine

The most important thing to note when discussing the topic of safety in Palestine is the different regions. The country is separated in two with the Gaza Strip located in the South-West bordering Egypt and facing the Mediterranean Sea, and the much larger West Bank in the East bordering Jordan.

The Gaza Strip has long been plagued by war and conflict due to volatile exchanges between its government Hamas and the Israeli military. Gaza is currently boarded off from the rest of the world with access in and out extremely limited and is not an area for foreigners to visit.

The West Bank has a very different situation to Gaza Strip

The West Bank, on the other hand, has a very different situation to the troubled Gaza Strip. While the area still has its fair share of problems regarding Israeli settlers and IDF (Israeli Defence Force) soldiers, the region is safe for foreigners to visit. Upon visiting the West Bank, one’s ideas of violence and conflict will quickly be replaced by the reality of delicious cuisine, bustling markets and hospitable locals eager to welcome you to their country.

Palestinians are the friendliest people you will meet

Palestinians are some of the friendliest people one will meet whilst traveling, and as tourists are somewhat rare, many Palestinians are happy to see foreigners visit their country. Walking in the streets of Palestine feels perfectly safe even at night time as petty crime is very low compared to many cities in Europe and the US.

While visitors are likely to witness protests or demonstrations, it should be noted that they have nothing to do with foreigners, and only if they disregard all common sense and venture into the heat of demonstrations should they find themselves at risk in Palestine.

Visiting the West Bank of Palestine is safe for foreigners

While visiting the West Bank of Palestine is safe for foreigners, it is wise to do some research about the region beforehand. Palestine is an extremely complex region, and the more knowledge one gains about the country prior to visiting the better.

This will inform visitors of the necessary safety precautions as well as the fascinating history of Palestine and will provide a greater understanding as to what they should expect when visiting Palestine. Disregard the over-exaggerated stories seen in the media and come and visit the country yourself. It will be an unforgettable and rewarding experience.